Travellers that book Air Niugini flights to Papua New Guinea are not looking for luxurious breaks abroad, it has been claimed.

Iwanta Perangin-Angin of Papua Adventure told the Independent that many of his clients hail from the US and Europe.

He noted that holdiaymakers with flights to Port Moresby are not looking for stays in five-star hotels when they book their break on Asia's largest island.

"[They] want to discover unknown territories and authenticity," the travel expert asserted.

Indeed, those with a fondness for nature may find the nation is the perfect destination, particularly in light of last week's announcement by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that more than 1,000 new species had been discovered on the island between 1998 and 2008.

A total of 218 plants were identified, as well as a 2.5 m river shark and 43 reptiles, prompting Dr Neil Stronach, WWF western Melanesia's programme representative to say: "New Guinea's forests and rivers are among the richest in the world."

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