Launch of Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026

The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority hosted its first Implementation Steering Committee Meeting for the recently launched Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026 on the 29th June 2022, at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby.

The Chief Executive Officer Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo, chaired the inaugural meeting in the presence of 16 organisation representatives to deliberate on the purpose, functions and reporting mechanisms of the TSDP-ISC.

The Implementation Steering Committee (ISC) is the highest working committee that is designed to coordinate all tourism related agendas pursued under the various sub working committees that exist within the sector for national prioritization and development in Papua New Guinea.

The CEO provided his welcome remarks and invited organisations to become members of the ISC to help contribute to the implementation of the TSDP and to grow the industry in the next five years amidst the global pandemic.

Some of the work that will need to be done under the ISC include;

• The development of a National Tourism Standards and Regulatory Framework
• The proper design of a pricing strategy for Tourism
• The review of the cost of travel in the country
• The active participation of land owners for tourism sites and attractions
• Tourism Taxation Incentives
• Access to finance for Tourism related purposes of development
• Youth empowerment through tourism initiatives
• International marketing re-strategizing for PNG Tourism
• PNGTPA Brand awareness in country and abroad
• Utilization of airline general sales agents overseas
• Strong partnership with PNG Kundu offices for destination and investment awareness
• Strong tourism investment incentives and so forth.

Mr. Uvovo further stated that through collaboration at the TSDP-ISC level, this will enable PNGTPA as the lead sector agency to steer the development of the national tourism industry products and services to a level that is globally and regionally competitive.

The ISC plans to meet quarterly and envisions more organisations to join in the membership to provide sound advice and judgement for all tourism related matters that are escalated at the high level.

All provincial governments have been urged by the CEO to take ownership of the new tourism plan by participating in the ISC in order to ensure that the national plan cascades down to the provincial level through the setup of provincial ISCs as well. The Provincial-ISCs will be utilised to inform the national TSDP ISC as a reporting mechanism for all tourism initiatives and issues encountered in the provinces.

The CEO also stated that stakeholder partnerships with the private sector will also be prioritised to ensure that plan achieves its full potential.

PNGTPA has extended invitation to all other government agencies and private sector stakeholders who would like to be a part of the committee to express their interests to the PNGTPA Division of Policy and Planning for consideration and partnership.