Raun Raun Theatre to be Rehabilitated

The Tourism Promotion Authority through the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture will renovate the historical Raun Raun Theatre in Goroka, Eastern Highlands with a K100,000 funding.

Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture Hon. Emil Tammur MP said work will begin immediately to get the iconic traditional structure ready for the Goroka Show in September this year.

Minister Tammur said the funding support from Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) was timely as the facility will host several performances for tourists during the Goroka Show weekend.

“My Ministry is grateful for TPA recognising the importance of rehabilitating the Raun Raun Theatre and for capturing this funding in their 2019 budget because it is an iconic structure and a tourism attraction on its own,” said the Minister.

The Minister said sadly many such valuable structures around the country which are part of PNG’s historical and cultural heritage have been neglected over the years due to lack of funding.

Minister Tammur said under the Marape/Steven Government, culture and tourism, will be a key focus for development not only for economic empowerment but to also instill pride in our cultural heritage for our people,  particularly the younger generation.

He said TPA has also funded other major tourism products and infrastructure in Eastern Highlands including the Asaro Mudaman Amphitheatre (performance stage and amenities for tourists including toilets) in Mando in the Daulo Electorate and the Kemase Tourism Site in Lufa.

TPA Chief Executive Officer Mr Jerry Agus said this was part of the Authority’s overall product development program to revive tourism in Goroka and Eastern Highlands.

Mr Agus said similar projects are also being undertaken in the other provinces as well under the TPA’s overall product development scheme.

Minister Tammur said once the Raun Raun theatre has been rehabilitated it is hoped that the structure will be used by schools for educational programs and visits by tourists after the Goroka Show.

(L-R) Minister Hon. Tammur Tammur MP, Raun Raun Theatre Director Mr John Dua, TPA CEO Mr Jerry Agus, and National Cultural Commission acting executive director Mr Steven Kilanda with the dummy K100,000 cheque. 

For further information, email the TPA Provincial Coordination and Product Development Division: ppd@papuanewguinea.travel  

For media enquiries email Mr. Colin Taimbari: colin.taimbari@papuanewguinea.travel  

The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Office coordinated a workshop on Agritourism, with the view to promote linkages in the Agri-food and Agritourism sectors in Port Moresby on May 27-28.

Tourism is a sector that has potential to strengthen the agriculture sector through agritourism and increasing demand for consistent access to quality local produce by tourism operators.

Participants included farmers, tourism operators- accommodation and restaurant, academic institutions including APTC and University of PNG, Chamber of Commerce, and Government agencies such as Tourism, Agriculture and Trade. The workshop was an opportunity for agriculture, tourism and trade sectors to discuss priorities, challenges and opportunities for a National Agritourism Policy. Work on the Policy will be led by the Tourism Promotion Authority working with local stakeholders and supported by  CTA, PIPSO, SPC, SPTO and HACCP Australia. 

We Need to All Promote our Country

Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive officer Jerry Agus wants the Papua New Guinea media to tell the best stories about our beautiful country to the world.
He said this when hosting a media get-together in Port Moresby, Friday 31st May 2019.

Veteran journalist Frank Kolma said the onus was upon every journalist “to stand for our country and to promote our country”.

“Tourism is an industry that is completely different from other industries within the country,” Agus said.

“The success of the industry in the country does not depend on how good the CEO is, how good the management is, or how good the tourism industry is.
“Tourism is an industry that cuts across different sectors.
“Tourism depends on good roads and bridges out there, good airports and airstrips out there, jetties and wharves we have, flight connectivity, taxi drivers, waiters and waitresses working in every hotel, customer services provided by flight attendants on aircraft.
“If you look at it, the tourism experience depends on the whole range of people.
“If one person doesn’t do his part, then the entire experience is spoiled.”
Agus said that was why the TPA tried to engage with all key stakeholders to embrace the importance of tourism.
“If everyone can work together, then we can see that tourism in the country grows,” he said.

“If everyone thinks that tourism growth depends entirely on Tourism Promotion Authority, it will never work.
“In order to deliver on our mandate to market and promote tourism, as a desired tourism destination overseas, we try our best to engage with so many people.”
Agus said this was where the media came in.
“As we all know, media plays a very important part in terms of influencing a lot of decisions out there,” he said.

“Media can spoil people, even colour a criminal as a good person, it can influence lot of things.
“Tourism is very important, but because of selling papers or attracting more viewers, you forget the tourism part of it.
“This country called Papua New Guinea is a country that you and I belong to.
“We will never be Australians, we will never be New Zealanders, we will never be Americans, no matter how hard we try.
“Papua New Guinea is our country, so we have got to have that at the back of our minds.

“Negative stories like rape, murder, tribal fighting attract people to the media.
“We must not forget that now, in this digital world we are living in, the news that you put up will go viral and lot of people overseas will read your stories.
“If we get a lot of negative stories out, it will affect the image of this country.
“At the moment, one of the impediments to tourists coming to Papua New Guinea is the negative image perception.
“Some people think that upon arrival at Jackson (International Airport), you will be killed.
“That’s the perception out there.”

Agus urged the media to “improve the image of this country”.
“Papua New Guinea is not ‘very dangerous’,” he said.
“There are a lot of dangerous countries out there where tourists go and visit.
“We don’t have terrorists, we don’t have car bombings, but people think that this country is ‘very dangerous’.
“It’s not.
“Whatever you report, remember that what you report may have negative implications.
“This is our country, we were born here and we will die here, so we all have to work together to promote our country.”

Agus urged reporters that when traveling, especially to a province out of Port Moresby, “you should write about the beauty of that particular province”.
“You could stay in a very good guest house, or you might go to an island with white, sandy beaches,” he said.
“You could write about that.”

Kolma said: “We all have a duty to stand for our country first and to defend it, in every profession that we have.
“We need to all promote our country, in whatever way we can.”

Writer: Malum Nalu   

For further information, email PNGTPA media coordinator Mr. Colin Taimbari: colin.taimbari@papuanewguinea.travel   

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority appoints Example for Australian and New Zealand Markets

Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), the statutory body wholly funded by the Government of Papua New Guinea who are responsible for the promotion of PNG as a desirable travel destination, have announced the appointment of Example to represent the country within the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Example, a Sydney-based communications agency that specializes in hospitality, travel and lifestyle, will be handling all public relations, trade relations and marketing for the PNG Tourism Authority, with a focus on driving increased visitation from Australia and New Zealand.

Working closely with the travel trade and consumer media, Example will create story-telling moments and experiences in order to educate travelers of Papua New Guinea’s diverse culture and showcase PNG as a must-visit destination.

The announcement follows a competitive tender process and sees Andrew Cavallaro, Example’s Head of Marketing, reinstated as AU/NZ lead for the tourism board, following his previous tenure in the role between 2014 – 2016.

“Australia is PNG’s most important source market for visitors. We are excited to grow our Australian and New Zealand arrivals and work with Example to spread the word of the beautiful islands and mountainous regions PNG has to offer, as well as the incredible cultural and adventure travel experiences throughout the country”, says Kennedy Wenge, PNGTPA’s Board Chairman.

Mr Wenge said the PNG TPA Board was excited about Example marketing and promoting Papua New Guinea Tourism in Australia and New Zealand.

“Andrew passionately leads the charge promoting Papua New Guinea and we’re looking forward to having him back at the helm, working alongside Example’s impressive PR and marketing team”, added Mr Wenge.

“We are thrilled to have been appointed, and I am excited to be promoting PNG once again to Australians and New Zealanders”, says Andrew Cavallaro, Example’s Head of Marketing.

“Papua New Guinea is an incredibly diverse country, but one that is lesser known to Aussies and Kiwis. We’re looking forward to shining a spotlight on our closest neighbour and showing everyone how special PNG is.”

Example commences work with PNGTPA on 1 June 2019, with further exciting announcements to be made shortly.

Staff writer:  Colin Taimbari 

For further information, email PNGTPA director marketing Ms. Alice Kuaningi: marketing@papuanewguinea.travel   

Tourism on the Rise in Papua New Guinea

New research shows there were almost 95,000 visitors arriving by air in Papua New Guinea, PNG, in 2018, who generated more than PGK690 million (USD$205 million) of spending flowing into the country’s economy.

These air arrivals were part of almost 195,000 international visitors to PNG in 2018, with the overall figure including people arriving by cruise ships as well as those who arrived in the country for short and long-term employment.

The International Visitor Survey (IVS) undertaken by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority and the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, shows that visitors arriving by air for tourism, business and to visit friends and relatives increased by ten percent from 2017.  The biggest spending by those 95,000 visitors, was for accommodation, airfares, and food and drinks.

The research shows that holiday visitors are the biggest spenders, staying an average of 10 nights and spending more than USD$2,500 per person per trip. While they only made up 33 percent of total visitors in 2018, this has increased from 26 percent of total visitors in 2017. Business travelers are still the largest group of visitors, making up 50 percent of people arriving by air in PNG. They stay about nine nights in the country, spending about USD$2,170 per person per trip.

“The survey shows the potential for Papua New Guinea to grow its tourism market, with a seven percent increase in holiday makers arriving by air in 2018, compared to the previous year,” said IFC’s Resident Representative for Papua New Guinea, John Vivian. “While the research shows visitors nominated safety and security as well as infrastructure as key areas for improvement, it’s significant that over 90 percent of people said they would return to the country.”

Overall the research shows PNG remains heavily reliant on the Australian market for visitors, with Australians accounting for just over half of all the visitors. Australians are predominately visiting the key tourism sites in the Central and Northern Province with keen interest in historical and adventure tourism.

“Tourism cuts across all sectors and needs concerted efforts of relevant sector agencies to address issues such as law and order and infrastructure developments,” said PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Chief Executive Officer, Jerry Agus. “PNG TPA’s main focus continues to be on marketing and promoting the country as well as scoping and developing international standard tourism products.”

“Every Papua New Guinean citizen is also encouraged to embrace the importance of tourism by doing their bit to help lift the image and profile of the country as this responsibility does not revolve around the PNG TPA alone,” Mr Agus said.

The research points to increasing interest by visitors to PNG in travel to the country’s provinces. Outside of Port Moresby, Central Province, Morobe and Northern Province received the most visitors. There was a 25 percent rise in the number of visitors to Milne Bay and a 17 percent increase in visitors to East New Britain, both areas designated as future key tourism destinations, bringing in millions of dollars to those local economies.

The 2018 IVS also explored niche market tourism for the first time. Adventure and cultural tourists were the largest niche markets, bringing in about 20 percent of all holiday visitors.  While bird watching and scuba diving brought in only four percent and 12 percent of holiday tourists in 2018, the high levels of spending by those tourists per trip make them important high yield tourism markets. IFC’s Papua New Guinea Tourism Demand Assessment study, published last year, highlighted the importance of PNG growing its tourism by developing niche markets such as cultural, adventure and historical tourism.

With travel and tourism key drivers of economic growth, accounting for almost one tenth of global GDP, IFC’s tourism work in PNG is focused on supporting the development of tourism business, improving tourism-related conditions, and helping attract investment.

IFC is also working with the World Bank to improve tourism services in the targeted destinations of East New Britain and Milne Bay.

Press release by International Finance Corporation – World Bank Group. 

For further information please email marketing@papuanewguinea.travel 

PNG Dive Focus 2019: Enhancing Understanding through Experience

Following the success of the inaugural staging last year, PNG Dive Focus 2019 took place over the course of three weeks in the month of May.

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s Destination Marketing Representatives (DMR’s) identify diving as the leading attraction for travelers in their respective markets.

PNG Dive Focus is intended to address the combined aims of the international travel trade with those of our dive tourism operators, to increase the number of dive visitors from those source markets to Papua New Guinea.

The DMR’s escorted groups of invited dive travel trade on familiarization tours to the established diving locations of Tufi, Madang, Kimbe Bay and Kavieng.

A total of 20 invited trade guests were hosted for up to a week by six PNG Dive Association (PNGDA) member operators. Familiarization tours included property inspections, land tours and of course diving. Each group convened for trade meetings with PNGDA members on Wednesday 15th May at the Airways Hotel in Port Moresby.

Dive tour wholesalers and media from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands and Great Britain gained first-hand experience, enabling them to confidently promote and sell PNG as a dive destination to their clientele. Media delegates produced feature articles for print and electronic dive publications, and posted regular updates on social media during their stay.

Members of the PNG Divers Association keenly supported this networking initiative. “We have long advocated the importance of maintaining a rapport with the international travel trade as one of the most effective and sustainable ways to grow our business” said PNGDA President Max Benjamin.

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s renewed support of PNG Dive Focus validates the success of this joint Government and Dive Industry partnership.

PNG Dive Focus 2019 is generously sponsored and supported by PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Air Niugini, PNG Air, Airways Hotel and PNGDA members Tufi Resort, Madang Resort Hotel & Niugini Dive Adventures, Walindi Resort & MV Oceania, Lissenung Island Resort, Loloata Island Resort.

Writer: Vilia Lawrence 

For further information, contact the PNG Dive Association via their website: https://pngdive.net/contact-us  

A team from the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) traveled to the Southern Highlands Province from 21st April to 3rd May this year to conduct general tourism awareness and tour guide training’s to the Tourism Product Owners in the Southern Highlands Province. The team visited all the districts in the province and conducted the training’s in the first two weeks prior to the launching of “Tourism Promotion Activities in Southern Highlands Province” by Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture Hon. Emil Tammur, MP & PNG Tourism Promotion Authority CEO, Mr. Jerry Agus on the 3rd of May 2019. Southern Highlands Province has a lot of unique tourism products to offer to both domestic and international tourists and the training’s and launching was timely for the province.

Papua New Guinea Shines at the South Pacific Tourism Exchange In Auckland

The Papua New Guinea Tourism team brought its unique colorful presence to the South Pacific Tourism Exchange in Auckland today, adding to the warmth and vibrant island atmosphere shared by other Pacific tourism representatives.

The South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE) is an annual travel-trade event hosted by the Fiji-based South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) with a membership of over 200 recognized government and private sector tourism bodies from around the Pacific, including the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA).

“Our presence at the SPTE Auckland show is the start of PNG’s marketing focus on New Zealand who are known for their adventure-based travelers.  In the next five years, PNGTPA will be placing a greater focus on the development of the New Zealand market, especially specific niche markets such as trekking, diving and cultural tourism,” said CEO Jerry Agus.

Proudly joining the PNGTPA in marketing destination Papua New Guinea at the SPTE in Auckland are the following PNG tour operators:  Melanesian Tourist Services, Paiya Tours, PNG Trekking Adventures, PNG Highlands Adventures, Buna Treks & Tours, Country Tours, PNG Explorers International and Air Niugini.

The Papua New Guinea Tourism team will meet with New Zealand tourism wholesalers and travel agencies to sell, market and promote our tourism products and services.

Miss Pacific Islands Leoshina Kariha also makes up part of the Papua New Guinea tourism team at the SPTE, embracing her greater role of not only being our PNG tourism ambassador, but the South Pacific Tourism Ambassador as well under the SPTO.

The SPTO and Miss Kariha will be advocating tourism in the Pacific at the SPTE Auckland Show under the “Ours is Yours” Sustainable Tourism campaign.

PNGTPA is proud to support Miss Pacific Islands and participate in the 2019 South Pacific Tourism Exchange.

Staff Writer: Pauline Riman

For further information, contact the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s Marketing Division, email: marketing@papuanewguinea.travel