Trekking Benefits Along the Kokoda Track

Responsible Sustainable Eco-Tourism Strategy

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 quickly lead to the exploitation of local communities.

Kokoda Spirit believes passionately in responsible travel and has promoted it right from the start. Kokoda Spirit is committed to the development of sustainable eco-trekking along the Kokoda Track. This commitment will enable us to assist the local Koiari and Orokaiva people develop skills and experience to gain employment and develop eco-tourism business across the Kokoda Track. We are 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 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 are also working with the local landowners to prepare local meals and brew local coffee for the trekkers for market value pricing.

We also contribute to the clean up the Kokoda Track campaign and educate Landowners to the best locations of guest houses and latrines. We also purchase our food locally and eat locally in village and family run guest houses ensuring that the locals benefit economically.

We also minimise our impact on the environment by travelling in small groups, reducing waste and offsetting our carbon emissions.

Go with a Local

Trekking Kokoda is all about getting to the heart and soul of the Kokoda Track and discovering what really makes it tick. Not only is ‘going local’ the best way for you to have a real travel experience, but working with the local people and their businesses means that the economic benefit derived from your trek stays with the local community.

One of the main reasons many travellers choose Kokoda Spirit is the fact we exclusively use tour leaders who were born or raised along the Kokoda Track. Their local knowledge keeps them one step ahead of the non local guides. They are highly qualified and trained and English speaking, and their intimate knowledge of the Kokoda Track enables them to unlock doors and show you things that you wouldn’t otherwise find.

Travelling with a local leader means that you enjoy a uniquely local perspective, meeting your leader’s friends and family along the track. Aside from the benefit to you, the traveller, we are proud to say that by employing locals, we are providing income, training and a career to local people.

A lot of trekking companies talk about responsible travel but employ ‘outsiders’. This deprives locals of the economic benefits of tourism. With Kokoda Spirit, you can trek knowing that the money you spend directly benefits your leader, the porters and their families and the local community.

In as many ways as we can, we support local businesses and communities in our travels, it’s the ethical way. It is the only way to get a true understanding of PNG and the Kokoda Track. We 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 every one benefits from this rich and rewarding experience that is the Kokoda Track.

World Heritage - Kokoda Tourism Workshop

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Kokoda Tourism Workshop
In April I was invited to attend the Kokoda Initiative Tourism Stakeholder Workshop in Canberra. The workshop provided an opportunity for consultation and discussion between the Australian Government and some key stakeholders involved with the Kokoda Track and Tourism. This workshop was conducted in the context of developing a Kokoda initiative.
The workshop structure was as follows.
1) Update on developments to date with Kokoda Initiative
2) Presentation on Australia’s experience of complex management arrangements for protected areas.
3) Discussion on options and priorities for including in a sustainable development program for communities along the Track.
4) The workshop also focused on the broader aspects of development, community needs and management issues along Kokoda, rather than particular issues such as mining.

World Heritage Application
The Papuan New Guinea Government has also commenced the first stages of its application for World Heritage for the Owen Stanley Ranges. This application also includes the area along the Kokoda Track. The application has been done on the unique Bio-diversity of the area.

Tourism Industry Working Group Membership
Wayne Wetherall from Kokoda Spirit is working with a select group of operators, with the assistance of the Australian Government to develop a Code of Conduct for the Kokoda Track Tour Operators. This group will research existing Codes of Conducts, distribute information, collate ideas and information from the group, write a draft code and distribute to the group for consensus then distribute it to the wider Tourism group.

Kokoda Trail - Kokoda Track Tourism Workshop

Kokoda Track, Kokoda Trail Tourism Workshop

Great news, I have been invited to attend the Kokoda Initiative Tourism Stakeholder Workshop in Canberra. This invitation has been only extended to those organisations that have contributed to the welfare and sustainability of the Kokoda Track.

This Kokoda Trail workshop will provide an opportunity for consultation and discussion between the Australian Government and some of the key stakeholders involved with the Kokoda Track and Kokoda Trail Tourism.

The workshop will focus on the following areas regarding Kokoda.

1) The update on the Australian Government engagement on Kokoda and the Kokoda Trail.

2) Presentation of complex management arrangements for Protected Areas used in Australia and synergies with the Kokoda Track.

3) Discussion about potential landowner development activities on the Kokoda Trail.

4) Discussion about tourism industry priorities and needs, immediate and longer term for the Kokoda Trail.

5) Discussion about potential opportunities for engagement and action by tourism operators on the Kokoda Track.

6) Sustainability and ecotourism plans for Kokoda.

Cheers,

Wayne