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On behalf of the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority board, management and staff, I am pleased to officially announce Papua New Guinea’s tourism brand ambassador, Justin Olam.
Justin recently travelled to PNG and started working with our PNG TPA team on our planned activities and campaigns for this year.
Given the short time with us, he was able to visit some Port Moresby attractions and also travel to Kokopo, East New Britain.
Justin Olam is a remarkable Papua New Guinean athlete who is well-known and respected throughout Papua New Guinea, Australia and the Pacific, as a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays as the Centre for the Melbourne Storm in the Australian National Rugby League.
Tourism in Papua New Guinea has endured a lot of set-backs in recent years – especially with the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, climate change, and the rise in social law-and-order issues. Our international and domestic image as a travel destination has hit an all-time low.
In 2022, our Visitor Arrivals Report recorded 69,376 international visitors. Our highest number of annual arrivals was in 2019, when we had 210,980 visitors.
As the national tourism office representing our tourism sector, we continue to show our resilience and commitment despite the economic and social stumbling blocks we continuously face.
The PNGTPA remains true to its mandated role as a non-revenue earning government body, which is to market, promote and develop tourism in Papua New Guinea.
Guided by our Tourism Sector Development Plan (TSDP 2022 – 2026), we are dedicated to developing sustainable marketing campaigns that enhance the image of our destination, as well as encourage travel and tourism in our great nation.
The PNGTPA’s engagement of Justin Olam as our country’s official tourism brand ambassador is one of many crucial steps my organisation is taking to actively promote and market our unique destination, Papua New Guinea – the land of ‘A Million Different Journeys’.
Justin Olam will be engaged as our tourism brand ambassador for a period of 12-months. In the coming days and months, we will be developing content for our tourism ambassador campaign across the country.
Our marketing campaign messages involving Justin Olam will take the form of TV and online video and print media. There are two main objectives to our tourism brand ambassador campaign:
The tourism brand ambassador campaign will be launched next month in August 2023.
We welcome everyone’s support for our tourism brand ambassador Justin Olam, especially our tourism campaign – because we believe that ‘Tourism is Everyone’s Business’.
Yours in Tourism,
Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo
Chief Executive Officer
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority
For further information please email acting director marketing, Ms. Alice Kuaningi alice.kuaningi@papuanewguinea.travel | phone: +675 320-0211
The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) is one of the proud corporate sponsors of the 27th Pacific Island Telecommunications Association AGM & Business Expo Forum (PITA 27), hosted by the Telikom PNG Limited at the Hilton Hotel, Port Moresby. The event’s theme was: Reimagining Service Excellence, Ubiquity and Resilience in a Post COVID Pacifica.
The prestigious ICT event was held over a four-day period, with many different topics presented by expert individuals working in the ICT space.
Guest speakers at the PITA 27 event were deputy prime minister Hon. John Rosso, and Hon. Timothy Masiu, Minister for Information and Communications Technology.
The PITA 27 registered over 300 participants from 35 countries across the Pacific, representing more than 100 organizations.
As a sponsor of PITA 27, the PNGTPA supported the event in-kind by providing entertainment throughout the whole four-day event. Entertainment included multimedia – destination promotion videos that played during intermissions in the program, as well as a variety of cultural and contemporary performances. From welcoming choirs stationed at the Jackson’s international airport, to the Oro singsing group performing at the Hilton Hotel Port Moresby – the PNGTPA ensured participants were warmly welcomed and experienced a sample of Papua New Guinea’s unique culture. A strong supporter of PNG’s creative industry, the PNGTPA also organized contemporary performances for the event, these included live bands, interpretive dance, storytelling and poetry in motion.
Hosts of the event, Telikom PNG Limited, provided the PNGTPA with exhibition booths, which were utilized to showcase and promote Papua New Guinea’s many travel and tourism opportunities through tourism brochures, posters, maps, and merchandise. The PNGTPA also used the opportunity to run a survey competition involving participants who were asked to share their MICE Tourism experience (meetings, incentives, conferences and events).
Tourism industry members brochures and marketing material were also on display at the PNGTPA booths. Local tour operators Buna Treks and Tours were on site at the tourism booth marketing their tour packages to event participants, and managing to successfully book sightseeing and trekking tours. The Loloata Island Resort team were also present at the booths, they were kind enough to offer a day-trip as a draw prize for the business-card-draw that happened daily. The Loloata team also managed to secure bookings during the event.
NCDC Tourism and Amazing Port Moresby collaborated with PNGTPA to sponsor the welcoming groups, which was the Peroveta group from Central Province and the West New Britain group. With their sponsorship, they were also given a booth to exhibit alongside PNGTPA.
The team representing PNGTPA at the PITA 27 were director marketing Alice Kuaningi, and marketing officers: Pamela Hoepel-Aupae, Liebert Kirakar, Gohi Oring, Kadara Wanu, Esther Jack, IT officer Gini Gabi, as well as tourism volunteers: Dylan Tamari, Steven Komboli, James Lamang and Melanie Nup.
Telecommunications is a key enabler for tourism development and business initiatives. PNGTPA’s commitment towards PITA 27 also aims to build networks with our PNG telecommunications companies, encourage their interest in our tourism sector that can potentially enhance digital infrastructure and drive communication into remote regions of Papua New Guinea where many of our tourist attractions are found.
Tourism in PNG can be positively influenced by telecommunications, however there are challenges related to network coverage, internet speeds, and access to remote areas. However, ongoing efforts are being made to improve telecommunications infrastructure throughout the country to further support the tourism industry. The Tourism Sector Development Plan (2022 – 2026), demonstrates a way forward on how the country’s tourism sector can vastly improve through partnerships with ICT service providers.
The Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association (PITA) is a non- profit organization formed to represent the interests of Pacific Islands in the field of telecommunications industry, bringing together experts, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across the Pacific to discuss latest trends, technologies, and challenges facing the industry.
Above image: Melanie Nup and Kadara Wanu at the Tourism booth, PITA27. Credit: Liebert Kirakar
Above image: Florence Bunari of Buna Treks and Tours at the Tourism booth, PITA27. Credit: Liebert Kirakar
Above image: Oro traditional group performing at the Hilton Hotel Port Moresby, PITA27. Credit: Liebert Kirakar
Above image: Peroveta group welcoming the PITA27 officials at the Jacksons International Airport, PITA27. Credit: Pamela Hoepel-Aupae
For further information, email: info@papuanewguinea.travel
ON Wednesday 31st August, 2022, new board members were welcomed at a swearing in ceremony at the Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) office, Down Town, Port Moresby.
Magistrate Sandy Tiakin facilitated the legal oaths and affirmations of the ceremony, wherein the new members swore to uphold their awarded roles and duties, while upholding the mission and values of the PNGTPA.
Joining the PNGTPA Board are key industry heads: Mr. Andrew Abel, Mrs Keryn Hargreaves, Mr. Michael Cassell, Mr. Willie Gagma, Captain Andui Koralyo, Mr. John Pung and Mr. Dominic Ira.
The new board members represent Papua New Guinea’s tourism sector, including the airlines, tour operators, attractions, hotelier industry, as well as government and financial institutions.
Also present at the new board members swearing-in were PNGTPA’s CEO Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo and senior management: Director Corporate Affairs Ms. Abuti Kevin, Director Policy & Planning Ms. Ingrid Kuman and Director Marketing Research & Promotions Ms. Alice Kuaningi.
For further information, contact the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, Office of the CEO: cleopatra.aramanat@papuanewguinea.travel
Image (L-R): Michael Cassell, Hon. Kennedy Wenge, Willie Gagma, Hon. Isi Leonard, Magistrate Sandy Tiakin, Eric Mossman Uvovo, Keryn Hargreaves, John Pung, Captain Andui Koralyo and Abuti Kevin.
Papua New Guinea officially opened its borders to international visitors on the 1st July 2022, and visitor arrivals from January to August 2022 show that the country has received 37,537 visitors – 2,182 of these visitors were here on holiday.
Obtaining a tourist visa remains a challenge for bona fide tourists as the 60-day tourist visa on arrival is no longer available. The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) will be working closely with the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority to reinstate the tourist visa-on-arrival facility to encourage international travellers to visit Papua New Guinea. Meanwhile, tour operators and agents must continue to comply with PNGICA requirements and apply online for their client’s tourist visas using the Immigration Authority’s website portal.
All COVID-19 travel restrictions have been lifted by the Government since 5th October 2022, the most recent being the vaccine test entry requirement for travelers, and the wearing of masks inside airports.
PNGTPA is aware that COVID-19 has become endemic – meaning the world is learning to live with the disease. Therefore, through the Safe Traveller PNG awareness program, the PNGTPA continues to advocate for the health and safety of the members of PNG’s tourism industry and visitors in the country. Industry members volunteer to participate in the program by undergoing training, and are then certified and promoted through the PNGTPA website as a Safe Traveller PNG business that is equipped to provide a safe and healthy environment for their guests and clients.
Since the lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions across the country, tourism in the country is slowly being revitalized, especially with the return of iconic national events like the Hagen Show, Frangipani Festival, Goroka Show and the recent Morobe Show in Lae. These events have not only brought back international travellers to the country, but refocused a great deal of marketing and promotions towards PNG’s domestic market.
For Morobe Tourism in particular, especially the recent 59th Morobe Show, hundreds and thousands of people attended the two-day event hosted at the Lae Showgrounds. Papua New Guinean show-goers came from the Highlands region, as well as from the Madang and Northern Provinces to attend, what is now becoming the nation’s biggest show with a strong focus on agritourism. Morobe Show is one of the most well-run, self-sustaining events in Papua New Guinea, hosted by the Morobe Agricultural Society – a successful case study for all events and festivals in Papua New Guinea.
Despite the Morobe Show’s success, there are many challenges ahead for tourism in the Morobe Province. Developments of attractions and products in Lae and the wider and remote Morobe Province are key areas the PNGTPA wish to assist the province with. However, the issue of a functioning provincial tourism office is vital in the bridging this assistance at a national level for tourism development in Morobe. The PNGTPA will be revisiting an MOU signed in 2018 by the Morobe Provincial Government and the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture.
In March this year, PNGTPA visited the districts of Nawae and Finschaffen to meet tourism product owners and service providers. The team also carried out marketing awareness and delivered guest lectures to the students of the Poly Technical College in Lae.
PNGTPA continues to market and promote Morobe as a travel destination in Papua New Guinea through its website: www.papuanewguinea.travel, particularly events like the Morobe Show, accommodation providers in Lae, as well as local tour operators like LaeAbout Tours and Fuzzy Wuzzy Expeditions.
Morobe Attractions will be a significant part of PNGTPA’s online marketing and promotions next year, working with the Morobe Provincial Government will be a vital and necessary step in showcasing the best of one of PNG’s most vibrant industrial hubs.
Image: Competitors at the Morobe Show rodeo style event. Lae city, Morobe Province.
For further information email PNGTPA director marketing Ms. Alice Kuaningi: marketing@papuanewguinea.travel
The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) is one of the proud sponsors of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and the PNG LNG Kumuls team, contesting at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup in England.
Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo, PNGTPA chief executive officer, announced the sponsorship as creating a new pathway in Sports Tourism, which explores a different angle of destination marketing and awareness through local and international sporting events.
The sponsored partnership with the PNGRFL offers PNGTPA an incredible opportunity to carry out promotion and awareness of Papua New Guinea as a travel destination at one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events in the United Kingdom (UK) – the Rugby League World Cup (RLWC).
The UK is also an important travel source market for tourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The PNGTPA is utilising the opportunity at the RLWC to promote PNG as a travel destination worthy of its ‘A Million Different Journeys’ brand, all the while raising awareness that our country’s borders are now open, and that we are warmly welcoming travellers back into the country.
Two PNGTPA marketing officers and a cultural tourism ambassador join the PNG LNG Kumuls during the team’s community engagements and pregame entertainments throughout the five-week long tournament in England.
Simon Pih, PNGTPA marketing officer Australia & New Zealand / RLWC lead; Pamela Hoepel-Aupae, PNGTPA marketing officer North America and Europe; and Cedrick John, cultural ambassador have completed several media engagements. The team were interviewed by the Warrington Worldwide media crew, The Guardian newspaper and local radio station where they spoke passionately about the country.
The PNGTPA team were similarly involved in public engagements at touristic sights and localities in England namely, Warrington, St. Helen, London, Liverpool, Manchester and Doncaster.
Warrington Market and the Two Brothers Café also invited the PNGTPA and PNG LNG Kumuls team for PNG Coffee Tasting and livestream on Saturday 22nd October, 2022. The Two Brother Coffee Shop will be selling PNG coffee throughout the RLWC and are happy to distribute destination marketing collaterals such as visitor maps, tourism product brochures, pamphlets and banners brought over by the PNGTPA team.
These and other events are opportunities presented to the PNGTPA by PNGRFL to participate together with PNG LNG Kumuls as side events. As part of its mandate, the PNGTPA proudly promotes all Papua New Guinea products and services, this includes Accommodation, Tours, Travel & Leisure activities, Arts & Crafts, Food & Textile, Sports & MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events).
The highlight of the PNGTPA and PNG LNG Kumuls community engagements was the school visits to Bradshaw Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School in Warrington.
The PNGTPA officers were given an opportunity to briefly share about travel and tourism in Papua New Guinea, while the cultural ambassador briefly demonstrated the colorful Huli Mali dance of Hela Province.
The School Principals and teaching staff were thrilled about the extra surprise by the Huli Wigman, commenting that this will have a lasting impact on an individual child’s life. The school visit presented the PNGTPA with a different angle to introduce the destination to a younger generation of future travellers.
The PNGTPA and PNG LNG Kumuls team will be visiting major cities and towns for more destination marketing engagements at public squares, photo opportunities and most importantly engaging with the public, while sharing wonderful stories and travel information about destination Papua New Guinea, the land of ‘A Million Different Journeys’.
Images: Cultural tourism ambassador Cedrick John in London and Warrington engaging with the local communities, alongside team members of the PNG LNG Kumuls and the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority.
For more information about this partnership please contact Ms. Alice Kuaningi – Director Marketing Research & Statistics on email alice.kuaning@papuanewguinea.travel
In light of the current situation in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, PNG Tourism Promotion Authority would like to advise our valued international tourists in the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, whom have attended the 2022 Goroka Show, to seek further information from our office should the need arise.
PNGTPA will assist, as and where need be to provide accurate information and advice to ensure your transit to Port Moresby and onto your next destination is expedited. An emergency hotline has been established, please contact any of the following PNGTPA numbers:
When prompted, dial any of the following extensions – 202 or 204.
OR Email: info@papuanewguinea.travel
We are devastated by the situation that has unfolded in this peaceful province of PNG and stand ready to support our international tourists.
PNGTPA extends our deepest sympathies to all whom have been affected by the tragedies that have occurred and pray for peace in the beautiful Eastern Highlands Province.
Authorised by:
Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Tourism Promotion Authority
The official handover-takeover ceremony of Papua New Guinea’s new tourism minister was held last week at the Tourism Promotion Authority, Tuesday 6th October, 2020.
In-coming Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon. Walter Schnaubelt, thanked out-going Minister Hon. Emil Tammur, for leading the ministry for almost four years through the agencies: Tourism Promotion Authority, National Museum and Art Gallery, and the National Cultural Commission.
Minister Schnaubelt said he would continue the good work done by his predecessor Minister Tammur. He said he was excited to work with everyone under the Ministry including the tourism sector.
During his speech, outgoing Minister Tammur highlighted his many achievements, especially establishing the Board of Trustees for the National Museum and Art Gallery; the successful hosting and delivery of APEC PNG 2018 under the tourism sector; as well as the permanent appointment of an Executive Director for the National Cultural Commission.
Member for Namatanai Walter Schnaubelt was commissioned the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture – replacing Member for Kokopo Emil Tammur, during a mini cabinet reshuffle on Thursday 1st October 2020.
For further information, email: info@papuanewguinea.travel
Newly appointed Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Hon. Walter Schnaubelt and outgoing Minister Emil Tammur.
PNG’s active engagement in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has been sector lead in recent years with the vision to address sector priority areas on the regional level. PNGTPA, through its involvement in the APEC Tourism Working Group was able to garner support from the other 20 APEC member economies to drive the development of the APEC Economic Study on the Impact of Cruise Tourism: Fostering MSME Growth and Creating Sustainable Communities.
Prior to the onset of covid-19, global cruise tourism was one of the strongest tourism sectors, registering a growth rate of 5.4% since 2009 with 30 million people expected to cruise globally in 2019.
PNGTPA developed the PNG Cruise Strategy in 2009 that laid out the foundation of what would become an evolution of the PNG cruise sector. PNG had always enjoyed the arrival of small expedition cruises, itineraries included island or up-river visit’s with shore excursions.
In 2014, PNG saw the inaugural visit of the Carnival Australia, P&O Cruise Line, Pacific Dawn dock in Alotau, Milne Bay and then sail into Rabaul. The entry of large capacity passengers’ ships is attributed to the strong cross-sectoral engagement between government agencies PNG Ports, NMSA, PNG ICSA, NAQIA, PNG Customs and PNGTPA.
Since then, PNG cruise numbers have increased significantly from 4,000 in 2007 to 19,123 cruise arrivals in 2016. In 2019 PNG recorded its highest cruise arrivals with 51,417, cruise visitors experienced Milne Bay, East New Britain, East Sepik, Morobe, West New Britain, AROB, Oro Province and NCD.
Alotau, the first port of call for PNG, was featured in this study. A wide range of stakeholders from both public and private sector contributed towards the findings of this study through the consultation workshop hosted in Alotau, March 2019. Given that each cruise destination has different facilities and economic attributes that determine the tourism size, scale and overall economic benefits, this study provides an assessment of the destination type, value proposition and frequency, nature and quantum of passenger and crew expenditure.
Milne Bay Province is the most visited provinces in the country, outside of Port Moresby. In 2018 the province registered a total of 34, 961 international visitors, 33,616 of which were cruise visitors. The economic impact study shows that 60% of MSME’s actively engaged in tourism generate most of their revenue from cruise tourism activities whilst 68% of respondents noted that employment opportunities increased significantly to service cruise tourism in the province. Crime, influence of foreign culture, congestion were a number of negative impacts discussed in the study.
To download the study please visit https://www.apec.org/Publications/2020/08/APEC-Economic-Study-on-the-Impact-of-Cruise-Tourism or contact the Policy and Planning Division on email: policy@papuanewguinea.travel
