Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# I genuinely want to know why PNG costs so much Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
globaltourist 23:26 UTC 26 Nov 2008 | Ok - I appreciate I am diving - which is expensive, as it tends to be resort based. But I am wondering how the resorts actually survive - I can't imagine they're full up, so it occurs to me they work on the principal of just getting a few punters in, but charging them a mint. £200 for a night's accommodation, 3 meals & 2 dives. Its not like they pay the local staff a fortune, & fuel cost will be the same in the Solomons, which is a lot cheaper. Anyone any opinions? |
ozziegiraffe 09:59 UTC 27 Nov 2008 | It may depend on how far they have to transport things that tourists expect that are not available locally - eg fuel for generators, imported food, etc. | 1
Laszlo 11:08 UTC 27 Nov 2008 | It also depends on which resort you are looking at - I am pretty sure there are ones in PNG that charge much less, though probably offer less luxury. Like anywhere in the world, they probably charge as much as the market will bear. | 2
globaltourist 13:34 UTC 27 Nov 2008 | Ozz - well that £200 a night resort is at Bootless, round the corner from Port Moresby - so they're having to take it hardly any distance at all. And the same argument could be levelled at the Solomons - where better resorts are cheaper - Morovo for example. Thing is I am going to dive the wrecks specifically - so I will go pretty much no matter what the cost, as I am writing articles on specific wrecks on this trip. But it's actually occurred to me that if you are on a dive trip to PNG from say - mainland Europe - or the UK - there's actually no point going there to dive reefs - or for diving period - unless you are going for a specific wreck - for the reason that there's nothing dive wise in PNG (critters, reefs, big fish action etc.), that you can't dive cheaper elsewhere - either the Solomons, or closer to mainland Europe - say Palau. | 3
waluwalu 01:00 UTC 29 Nov 2008 | avarice | 4
globaltourist 12:37 UTC 29 Nov 2008 | Sadly Walu, you might be right - just found another operator doing Bootless who set up accommodation & 2 dives a day for £100 - half price.... | 5
waluwalu 17:48 UTC 29 Nov 2008 | I've seen the same sort of thing in Central America-one operation wanted $60 for a short plane ride for me and another $60 for my fishing rods-I contacted another who took me for $25. | 6