Video: TBA Concurrent Paper Session 5.1 People Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals Conference 2019, 24-25 Jan 2019, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand https://tourism-sdg.nz

1. Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals 2019 Conference
Jan 24-25
Massey University, Albany Campus, Auckland
Women and small indigenous tourist
businesses: case studies from Papua
New Guinea
Hennah Steven
PhD Candidate
Prof Glenn Banks
Prof Regina Scheyvens
Dr Litea Meo-Sewabu

2. Introduction
Research project:
Role of women in successful businesses
based on customary land. Part of a
Marsden project: ‘Land has eyes and
teeth’.
This presentation:
Preliminary findings from two small tourism
businesses based on customary land in
Papua New Guinea (PNG).
What makes for gender equality and
women’s empowerment (SDG5) in these
businesses

3. Clem’s place – Tunnung Island
Cathy’s eel farm – Laraibina village
Research sites –New
Ireland Province, PNG

4. Case Study Tourist Businesses
Clem’s Place – Surf getaway
• Bungalows
• Diving
• Game fishing
• Rafting
• Snorkelling
• Surfing

5. Cathy’s Eel Farm
• Freshwater eel farm
• Annual catering for Australian
high school students

6. Women’s influence in small tourist businesses
Spiritual beliefs and Christian faith
❖ Influence decisions over usage of business income
E.g.: Tithing, church projects, community projects, support school children
❖ Cultural belief resulted in business establishment
E.g.: Mum told son never to touch or kill eels. They were sacred – believed to be ancestors.
❖ Business success is attributed to faith in God.
“Nothing happens by human strength
or human wisdom. God gave me
something to do back in the village. I
give glory to God”. Cathy Hiob, Video
Interview with New Ireland Province
Media, 2018
“When we are faithful to God, He
is faithful to us. Its our faith in God
that blesses this business. I am
happy that we have built a church
here…”
Sophie, Interview, 2018
Women seem to have stronger faith in God and connect business
success to a higher power.

7. …Mum tells me the most important and
best thing is to get first hand
information about people’s needs in the
community…(Greg Hiob, Interview,
2018)
• Social roles and connections
❖ Make sure there is strong relationship with the community
❖ Make sure people are happy
Sophie distributes income on Tunnung Island.
She goes from door to door in the village,
even at night, to deliver each person’s
pay/gift. She also makes sure there’s food
and water for village dancers and
participants.
❖ When people need financial assistance, often women the first point of
contact

8. Women’s unequal ownership of land and lack of decision-
making power in PNG has been widely accepted as:
• A cultural challenge
• Creates gender inequality
• Barrier to economic development
(Commonwealth of Australia, 2008, p. 81; PNG: 2011-2012 Country Gender Assessment, p.10, 5)
Conclusion
Thus, DIRECT access to ownership and control over land
and other forms of property may be seen as the ONLY way
to achieve women’s equality and empowerment (SDG
5.A.1/5.A.2)

9. Gender Equality &
Empowerment for
women in small tourism
businesses based on
customary land seem to
be connected to
• Strong spiritual beliefs
• Social roles and
connections women
have
This also suggests that
women INDIRECTLY
influence decisions on
Customary Land which
contributes to retaining
land for their families.
However,

10. Reference
Commonwealth of Australia. (2008). Making land work: case studies on customary land and
development in the Pacific. Canberra: Australian Agency for International Development
(AusAID)
Google map (2019).
PNG National Statistics Office. (2011). PAPUA NEW GUINEA 2011 NATIONAL REPORT. Port
Moresby: NSO Retrieved from
http://actnowpng.org/sites/default/files/2011%20Census%20National%20Report.pdf.

11. Tenk yu tru