Tourism & business boost: PNG re-establishes Cairns consulate
30 January 2014
PACNEWS
THE PNG government has re-established a consulate in Cairns to provide visa and other services.
The consulate commenced issuing visas to foreigners travelling to PNG on Tuesday after the establishment of a border management system by Australian and PNG immigration authorities.
PNG Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Rimbink Pato said that the consulate will assist business and add to the other three overseas posts in Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.
He said the operations will boost PNG’s trade and investment interests in north Queensland, including the tourism industry’s project to implement direct flights from Cairns to provincial airports in PNG.
Wouldn't the reality of re-establishing the consulate only actually be to cater for the increased visa services now required due to the change in visa issuing?
And had the regulations not changed the consulate would not be needed? In other words, is it not a boost to business and tourism but in reality simply a required situation given the new regulations for issuing visas?
Posted by: Justin Friend | 30 January 2014 at 07:34 PM