PNG PORTS CORPORATION LIMITED::Papua New Guinea

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Historical Status Report For 2007 - 2009

PNGHMS

Volunteer Youth Ambassador

Seafarers Centre

The application form

The VYA Poster

Images from MS Europa!

Images from MS Amadea!

Volunteers during MS Europa Visit

Community Participation

The participation of PNGPCL volunteers in the community is a new concept received by all business houses, organisations etc. In 2010 saw the volunteers take part in various events such as the Orchid Show and, White Ribbon Day preparation and the Sausage Sizzle. However their involvement can still be used in many areas in Port Moresby.

This year 2011 saw the plan to use the volunteers in the Cheshire Homes Sausage Sizzle which has started again in January. A plan to use their services on a bi-monthly basis has worked well which includes 8 volunteers on a Saturday at the Boroko Foodworld. Each day starts with preparation of the area, set up of the BBQ stand and preparation of the food. The volunteers take turn to do the BBQ whilst the others assist to remind public to donate in the Cheshire Homes piggy bank.

Cruise Vessel Guides

Involvement of our volunteers is based only in Port Moresby however there are plans to expand this program to other centers where cruise ships visit regularly. The VYA’s involvement is important upon confirmation of arrival of cruise ship or overseas naval ships into Port Moresby.

Recently we saw the visit of MS Europa (03.02.2011) and MV Albatross (14.03.2011) which operationally was successful. Stakeholders involved were Niugini Tours, Tourism Promotion Authority, Post PNG, PNG Ports and the PNGPCL volunteers. Our services (PNGPCL Volunteers) here at the Port Moresby Port were mainly to the tourists who required escort around Port Moresby area.

From observations, twenty percent (20%) of the tourists do not make formal arrangements for tours around Port Moresby or to other parts of PNG. Even so, tourists who make arrangements for tours have the afternoon off to stroll around the main town area and these are the ones our volunteers assist to escort and provide guidance, information where possible.

Since our volunteers number to more than four hundred, a handful (50 – 60 person) of our dedicated volunteers volunteer their time to make the program successful towards this cruise ship visits.

With the volunteers available on the day, they are divided to about six (6) groups in which one group consisting of at least 5 – 6 volunteers are located at the front quay to welcome the tourists. The volunteers at the front quay do several duties apart from escorting and these include distribution of brochures, giving a friendly smile, assisting the tour operators direct the tourists to the right tour bus etc.

The other group of volunteers at the entrance standby to receive the tourists who are escorted by the volunteers from the front quay. The volunteers by the front entrance then take over and proceed to the main town area or provide assistance in calling the Taxi Cab Operators such as Ark, Red Dot, Scarlet taxi services etc.

The tour agent on ground Niugini tours arranged excursions to areas outside of Port Moresby such as Sogeri, Gaba Gaba Village, Botanical Gardens and Bomana War Cemetery. However several tourists who have visited this country have often approached the volunteers insisted that they take them to these places as well which placed our volunteers in an awkward situation. The volunteers did the best they could to see how they could best assist in these times and the tourists were grateful.

The language barrier was another area that our volunteers struggled with however got through by the end of the day. Most of the tourists who were assisted by our volunteers gave tips as appreciation.

NCDC set up a craft market at Ela Beach where people from Port Moresby selling craft etc came in to display and sell to tourists who had the chance to visit this set up. The problem with this was that most items were big and NCDC did not specify the requirements where tourists only wanted small items (souvenirs). Most tourists did get a bargain on prices with volunteers making sure they got what they wanted at a discounted price.

All volunteers and PNGPCL officers were provided drinks throughout the day and lunch provided along with a chocolate bar. The volunteers were provided with K5 credits to assist them in assisting tourists if ever they required taxi service.

At the end of the day we held a short meeting, made a roll call and thanked all the volunteers on behalf of PNGPCL before arranging for the volunteers transportation back to their respective homes with the assistance of Niugini Tours at a discounted fare.

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