Posted 22 September 2010 - 08:58 PM
Jason
It sounds like a good project to work on so good luck with it.
Have a look at other forum topics on this site for the number of walkers. They keep exact numbers of how many permits are issued = number of trekkers on the track each month. I believe Gail (who runs this site and owns and runs Kokoda Trekking/ Orohaven Resort from PNG) may be able to help you out with this. Last time I saw number of trekkers was in a newsletter on this forum site and it lists number of trekkers each month going back 10 years if I remember right.
Sustainable tourism is always a tricky subject. If something becomes too popular and "touristy" it risks being spoilt in my opinion. Not enough tourists and you risk a degradation in services,etc and a further downturn in tourist numbers.
I think you need to look at why people walk the track in the 1st place. This varies from honouring a family member who served in PNG, wanting to honour those who fought for our country, walking in a beautiful country on what is regarded as the 3rd most challenging trek in the world, wanting to challenge yourself, walking for a charity group,etc The reasons vary but they all lead us to being a "tourist" on the track. I walked the track last year with a group from the Adelaide Crows including Roo and Bassett (being from Golden Grove you should know them!) so I had a number of motivations. We were raising money, challenging ourselves mentally and physically and emotionally and also hanging out with our football idols.
You really have to walk the track and experience PNG 1st hand to realise that trekkers play a vital role in the PNG economy. Firstly the trekking companies employ young men from the villages along/near the track to carry food, equipment and trekkers (heavy) backpacks. The money they receive for this is sometimes the only money their family (and sometimes whole village) receives so it supports a large group of people. Secondly the villages trekkers pass through are supported by the trekker buying much appreciated bananas, cans of coke,etc so more money flows into the villages. Thirdly huts are built in villages along the track that the trekking companies pay for trekkers to use. So no trekkers - no money for either of these factors.
Next you need to look at the facilities and services set up to support trekkers along the track. Sanitation, communication and other facilities have been painstakingly built to support trekkers along the track. These also benefit the villagers so it is a win-win situation to keep these maintained. But it is still a delicate balance about how far do you develope these facilities. Build a "bitumen" pathway for trekkers to walk on and the whole experience gets spoilt (and wouldnt last a week anyway in the wet season)
Without the trekkers the men employed by the trekking company would have little to do and fall into the sort of lifestyle of those in Port Moresby and kokoda village. Alcohol and drugs are an unfortunate distraction in these places. So the social impact of cash flowing in from the trekkers also plays a part.
Also trekkers support the Port Moresby economy by staying in (over priced!!) hotels before and after their treks. Hotel, cleaning, security staff are employed by these hotels so more money flows into family groups. Not many trekkers stay on for a longer stay in Port Moresby as it tends to be a little "seedy" unfrotunately.
Hope some of this helps Jason. I do believe trekking the kokoda track is a good form of sustainable "tourism" and I hope it grows in a managed way so the experience is not spoilt. If you get the chance to walk the track you won't regret it - it really is an experience of your lifetime.
Cheers Shane
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