Tourism industry to have its own police force

PORT MORESBY – The tourism industry in Papua New Guinea will have its own police force.

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary previously did not have police officers tasked to ensure the safety of tourists visiting but that will now change with a major restructure of the police force, Police Commissioner Gari Baki announced.

Baki said tourism policing will now be part of the community policing directorate.

“The community policing directorate has been reorganised to take on tourism policing as one of its core functions,” he said.

Madang Resort Hotel owner and former politician, Sir Peter Barter, welcomed the announcement and said he and others suggested it 10 years ago.

Another challenge for tourists in relation to security in PNG is the display of weapons in public, which Sir Peter said this often made tourists uncomfortable.

- Post-Courier