The recently launched spectacular Megabo Cane Swallowing Festival and the Yasina Nature Park in the Unggai-Bena district of Eastern Highlands province in Papua New Guinea will become the main tourism attraction annually.
Cane Swallowing is a traditional initiation ceremony performed exclusively by men in this part of Eastern Highlands and it is a major attraction at the popular Goroka Show every year. The men hold both ends of a small cane and swallow up to 30 centimeters before pulling it out. The Yasina Nature Park is part of the Bismarck Range bordering Ramu towards Madang province. It has been surveyed and will shortly be declared as a protected conservation area hosting not only unique and diverse animal and plant species but also holds historical sites including relics from the Second World War.
The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority is supportive of the festival.
Megabo community in the whole of Unggai-Bena district wants to bring in tourism development through their unique culture and their rich natural biodiversity.