Surfing In Papua New Guinea

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SURFING in Papua New Guinea is gaining international recognition, not only as a sport but more so as a tourism product.

Interests from around the world, particularly Australia and the United States in recent times, has seen overseas surfers travel to Nusa Beach Resort in Kavieng and Lido Village in Vanimo to experience PNG surf.

A United States Surfing Promotion Team has arrived in the country and will shot a film on surfing. They will film in Kavieng on December 13 and in Vanimo on January 5. Another Australian crew is already on the ground at Nusa shooting material for an 8-10minute full-on action promotional video for Air Niugini, Tourism Promotion Authority and the Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea (SAPNG).

“We are also fascinated by growth of surfing in the village level and what that means for community development.”

Accompanying the team is Jess Ponting, a lecturer of sustainable tourism development at the Sydney University of Technology.
Said Mr Ponting: “I am basically looking at surf tourism as a means to affecting community development in the rural areas.”

Mr Abel said the arrival of the US team marks a significant milestone in the 16-year history of the SAPNG in capturing the history and evolution of modern sport surfing and surf tourism in PNG.

He said the film production coupled with the recently launched TPA surf brochure and website(www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg) signifies a major step forward in the promotion and development of surf tourism in PNG.

“Through this collective effort between SAPNG, TPA, Air Niugini and the US Surfing Promotion Team, we hope to further expand surf tourism in the world by way of the inbound surf tourist numbers,” he said.

Acting TPA chief executive officer Erigere Singin said surfing is now being classified and developed as a niche market in PNG by TPA and positive publicity and promotion by overseas media such as the US Surfing Promotion Team will do a lot of good for the industry in PNG.

Ms Singin reiterated TPA CEO Peter Vincent’s push for development of Sports Tourism, whereby TPA would like to sponsor regional or international sporting competitions hosted by PNG beginning in 2004, with surfing high on the agenda as one such sport.


Ms Erigere Singin
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Tourism Promotion Authority


Team for promotional video seen here with Acting Chief Executive Officer of TPA - Erigere Singin (seated)