Facts for visitors: Handy tips for first-time travellers

ETIQUETTE: It might come as a surprise for a small country, but Papua New Guinea is home to hundreds of cultures and languages, all with separate behavioural rules and structures. Papua New Guinea is an incredibly welcoming and friendly nation. Most locals will greet you with a warm and genuine smile. As a result of long Australian colonisation and influence, Western etiquette in urban centres is the norm. In villages, an emphasis is placed on reciprocity and hospitality. One universal custom everyone can share is the eating of betel nut ( buai). In the event of an invitation to greet a chief or village head, visitors must bow before the leader and are prohibited from eating foods reserved for the chief and his family. To do otherwise would be considered discourteous and ignorant.

DRESS: PNG does not have a set standard for dress. Light and loose clothing are recommended given the year-round tropical climate. Women should be modestly dressed; very short skirts or shorts, bikinis or brief swimwear are not appropriate in public. Sweaters or light jackets are recommended when visiting the Highlands Region. Most business meetings are conducted in standard Western business attire.

LANGUAGE: Over 800 languages are spoken throughout PNG. Under colonisation, a pidgin English, Tok Pisin emerged as a common language, and is today one of PNG’s official languages. While English is taught in school and is the official language of business and government, Tok Pisin is a symbol of national identity and the preferred means of communication. Hiri Motu, which originated in southern PNG, is now also an officially recognised language in PNG.

VISA: Anyone travelling to PNG for work, business, study or tourism purposes must have a visa entry permit. Applications for a 60-day tourist visa cost PGK100 ($47.59) and can be obtained upon arrival at international ports of entry. Applications for single-entry 30-day business visas cost PGK250 ($119) can also be made upon arrival. The longer 12-month multi-entry business visa with a 60-day stay per entry must be obtained prior to arrival from the nearest PNG diplomatic mission. Fees may vary.

HEALTH: Urban areas have adequate medical staffing in hospitals and clinics. Rural areas are serviced by a thinly spread system of aid posts and small health care centres, where trained nurses and paramedics are rare, and doctors even more so. Expatriates can use the local branch of the global International SOS health care centre, which operates at Western standards. It is not advisable for visitors to drink tap water, and newcomers should drink only boiled or bottled water. One should consult a doctor before travelling to PNG for the appropriate vaccinations against infections. Special care must be taken against malaria and dengue fever, as these are widespread in both urban and rural areas. Insect protection measures are essential.

SAFETY: Visitors should keep personal safety in mind at all times. Those arriving at Port Moresby’s Jacksons International Airport should arrange for a pick-up, especially if one’s flight arrives at night. If no prior transportation is arranged, it is recommended to take a courtesy hotel bus to any one of the major hotels and contact one’s sponsor from there. Visiting squatter settlements and travelling by car outside Port Moresby at night, even on major highways, are not recommended. Displaying money and valuables is unadvisable in public. Most expatriates should avoid using public motor vehicles or taxis to get around, relying instead on their sponsor or a rental vehicle for transport.

BUSINESS HOURS: Government offices are usually open from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Banks remain open until 3pm, and most private and state-run enterprises are also open from about 8 am to 5pm.

CURRENCY: PNG currency (PGK) is made up of kina ( “keena”) and toea (“toya”); 100 toea equal one kina.

As of April 2012, $1 is worth PGK1.98. Most major international currencies can be exchanged in banks with relative ease. ATMs accept Visa and MasterCard and allow withdrawals up to PGK2000 ($951.80) daily. There may be an additional 3% charge on credit card transactions.