Giving Back - Eco Tourism

Wayne was recently invited to participate in an Australian/ PNG Government workshop on the sustainability and eco tourism plan for the Kokoda Track.

Wayne is now working with the Kokoda Track Authority (KTA) as part of the KTA Works Program Advisory Committee.

This committee has been formed to protect and plan for the long term protection of the track, and to ensure all the Landowners and Villages benefit from the Track.

Responsible Sustainable Eco-Tourism Strategy

All travel brings benefits both to the traveller and the countries visited, offering opportunities to learn about different cultures creating jobs and contributing to economic development.

However, tourism has its negative impact too. It can erode cultures, alter the natural environment and lead to the exploitation of local communities.

Kokoda Spirit believes passionately in responsible travel and has promotes that through the development of sustainable eco-trekking along the Kokoda Track. This commitment will enable us to assist the local Koiari and Orokaiva people develop the skills and experience to gain employment and develop eco-tourism business across the Kokoda Track.

• Kokoda Spirit is also committed to developing and implementing health and education programs to assist the people across the track.
• We believe people who work for Kokoda Spirit should be treated fairly, paid a fair wage, are supplied with adequate trekking gear, have a safe work environment, have access to health and education programs and further career opportunities.
• We also believe that we should also learn and respect the culture and the customs of the country we are visiting so that we do not offend local people.
• We ensure that local people benefit economically from trekking by employing them as porters, cooks, leaders and guides.
• We also train our staff in hospitality, customer service, and first aid and assist them with both education and health.

Kokoda Spirit runs community programs across the track to help with the distribution of school books, reading programs, gardening programs and first aid kits. We have also trained some of the local villagers to bake bread, scones etc and encouraged the locals to introduce a laundry service for the trekkers to further improve their income.

We also know at Kokoda Spirit that we are far from perfect, but we are trying very hard to minimise our impact on the Kokoda Track, while delivering an exceptional eco-trekking experience.

We will continue to work with the local people in PNG and along the Kokoda Track to ensure everyone benefits from this rich and rewarding experience that is the Kokoda Track.