Papua New Guinea - what it is?

Blog post 2
Travel sites market Papua New Guinea as an idyllic place to travel, similar to Fiji and other countries in the Pacific. Where snorkelling, diving and culture are abundant and beautiful. With the added bonus of Australian history in the Kokoda trail.

http://www.tonywublog.com/journal/diver-in-eastern-fields-papua-new-guinea-coral-reef-with-flat-calm-water

http://www.pacific-islands-travel.com.au/kokoda-track/kokoda-track-map

But this seems to go against what the common thought among the public is. Often when discussing PNG with other people the topic of danger comes up. There seems to be a strong assumption that all people who go over there have some sort of negative experience with the native people.

These are very opposing views on the safety and on the perspective of a country, especially at a time when globalization has such an impact on everyone and everything. But it seems that PNG has escaped this tourist overhaul even with best efforts to sell it as a tropical holiday location

Being an anthropology student assigned PNG I often discuss the topic of cannibalism when I talk about PNG. When it is brought up with people they tend to think that it still exists, almost as if all native tribes in PNG partake in it. I guess it is part of PNG's Primitive appeal.

Although there are reports that cannibalism does still exist in PNG, it is localised in a specific area, and is certainly not a widely practiced or accepted act. They seem to be somewhat restricted by the ‘primitive’ stereotype that is being perpetuated. Their space and place is largely being represented as a primitive land with primitive people, which may, in few places, be true, but progress has been made in PNG since the colonisation in the 1800’s. I think it is important to think about where a place has ‘come from' when considering it in the modern day.

http://www.janesoceania.com/oceania_postcards1/index1.htm

http://topuriro.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/top-10-most-dangerous-cities-in-world.html