Photo: Indian High Commissioner to PNG, Inbasaker Sundaramuthi
Papua New Guinea is one of the best and most ideal places on earth for tourists. White sandy beaches, beautiful people, and local traditions are among some experiences the country has to offer to its visitors.
Recently, Indian High Commissioner to PNG, Inbasaker Sundaramuthi, revealed that India is willing to send tourists to Papua New Guinea – however, PNG is yet to formally honor an agreement it signed with India to have visa on arrival for its nationals.
The agreement was signed in 2016, but nothing has come to fruition, as PNG mainly receives tourist from Australia, Sundaramuthi said.
He noted that India is the third largest economy in the world with a high population, and PNG can benefit immensely from India through tourism.
The Indian High Commissioner is of the view that this potential can bring in more monetary benefits to Papua New Guinea if only the government expands the tourism market to other countries in the eastern hemisphere, such as India.
In 2021, arts and cultural agencies from India and Papua New Guinea established ties in working towards signing an agreement on a cultural exchange program for 2022 – 2025.
The National Cultural Commission’s (NCC) Executive Director at that time, Mr Steven Enomb Kilnda, visited Sundaramuthi and made a presentation on the achievements, activities and plans of the commission, with a view to sealing an agreement on cultural and arts program between the two countries.
He received a positive response from the Indian envoy, who said his office will be working on a proposal to supply help to boost the efforts of NCC to deliver cultural services to the people of Papua New Guinea.
India is the second-most populous country in the world, after China, with an estimated population of 1.4 billion people, and is the seventh largest country in the world, Sundaramuthi explained.
An agreement with the Indian High Commission to grant visa on arrival would be ideal for PNG to understand and learn how India - which also has a diverse culture - promotes, develops, and preserves its largest collections of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity like songs, music, dance, theatre, folk traditions, performing arts, rites and rituals, paintings and writings.
India's high population offers the biggest market for Papua New Guinea in terms of tourist visitors annually apart from the country's traditional market Australia.
The reason for the delay is unknown, but according to the Indian High Commissioner it is important for PNG to honor such national agreements.
Sundaramuthi urged the government to work closely with his office to pave a way forward to enhance tourism in PNG and forge stronger ties between the two countries.
PNG’s visa on arrival arrangement currently in place is with Australia and other Pacific Island countries, especially those who are members of the Melanesian spearhead group.
Papua New Guinea's tourism potential is massive, and can be able to generate substantial internal revenue annually to the state coffers if only the market is expanded and much attention is given to address issues that are affecting the tourism industry’s potential, he added.
