Papua New Guinea's Immigration division has reacted to the recent attack of tourists on the Kokoda Trail by tightening the already-stringent screening process for visas.
The Post Courier newspaper reported the Immigration Minister, Rimbink Pato, called for an independent investigation into the attack on a British and American couple last month.
The Tourism and Sports Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, told RNZ International the story was sensationalised by the British media, with its claims of cannibalism fears.
He said those kinds of tourists were not wanted in PNG.
Tour operators said the couple were warned not to embark on the trek and were severely unprepared, after lying on their application forms.
Police said the assault and rape accounts were suspicious and at least partly fabricated.
Mr Pato said he wanted to ensure that tourists who received a visa on arrival were genuine and had adequate funds to support themselves and a planned and coordinated tour itinerary.
Photo: Adventure Kokoda / Charlie Lynn / Facebook
