Papua New Guinea Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Pacific.

Area
462,840 sq km (178,704 sq miles).

Population
5.8 million (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
12.5 per sq km.

Capital
Port Moresby.
Population:  275,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from Australia in 1975.  

Language
The official language is English, which is widely used in business and government circles. Pidgin English and Hiri Motu are more commonly used (an estimated 742 other languages and dialects are also spoken).

Religion
90% Christian.

Time
GMT + 10.

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Australian-style three-pin plugs are in use. Some hotels provide 110-volt outlets in guest-rooms.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare since 2002.

Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Paulias Matane since 2004.

Recent History
In May 2005, the islanders of Bougainville elected their first autonomous government, with former separatist rebel Joseph Kabui as president. Papua New Guinea as a whole saw current prime minister, Somare, re-elected for his second successive term in 2007. His National Alliance party won 27 of 109 parliamentary seats and a coalition government was formed.

Telephone
Country code: 675. There are no area codes in Papua New Guinea.

Mobile Telephone
Coverage is limited.

Internet
Services tend to be slow and sometimes unreliable.

Post
Airmail to Europe takes seven to 10 days.

Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0900-1200.

Press
• Two daily newspapers are published in English: The National and Papua New Guinea Post-Courier.
• The most popular daily is Niugini Nius.

Radio
• The National Broadcasting Corporation is a government-run national station.
• NAU FM is private.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
8 Jun Queen's Birthday.
20 Jul Remembrance Day.
14 Sep Independence Day; Constitution Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Easter Monday. 
7 Jun Queen's Birthday.
19 Jul Remembrance Day.
13 Sep Independence Day; Constitution Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Note
In addition, there are various regional festivals throughout the year.

Contact Information:

Tourism Promotion Authority
Street address: Pacific MMI Building, Level 5, Champion Parade, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Postal address: PO Box 1291, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Tel: 320 0211.
Website: www.pngtourism.org.pg

South Pacific Travel (South Pacific Tourism Organization) in Fiji
Street address: Level 3, FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 330 4177.
Website: www.south-pacific.travel

Papua New Guinea High Commission in the UK
14 Waterloo Place, London SW1Y 4AR, UK
Tel: (020) 7930 0922/6.
Website: www.pnghighcommission.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1300 and 1400-1630.

Papua New Guinea Embassy in the USA
1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 745 3680.
Website: www.pngembassy.org


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