Port Moresby buzzed with cultural displays and insightful discussions as Papua New Guinea inaugurated its National Tourism Conference and EXPO on April 9, marking 50 years of showcasing the nation to the world and heralding a new era of sustainable and inclusive tourism.
Under the theme "Indigenizing Culture, Modernizing Infrastructure, and Promoting Peace through Tourism," the conference gathered representatives from government, the private sector, community leaders, tourism businesses, and international guests, all aiming to highlight tourism as a key pillar for economic growth.
Augustine Mano, Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) Managing Director, emphasized the conference's role in stimulating discussions on critical issues within the sector, potentially triggering its transformation.
He noted that tourism could address PNG’s economic challenges, such as foreign exchange issues, unemployment, and SME support, if properly supported.
The Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Belden Norman Namah, called on stakeholders to honor the past while enhancing PNG's sustainability and global appeal as a premier tourist destination. He declared: "Tourism in Papua New Guinea is not dead, tourism is alive!"
Namah thanked the government for recognizing tourism's potential, and extended appreciation to key leaders within his ministry, including Mr. Eric Mossman (CEO, Tourism Promotion Authority), Mr. Stephen Kilanda (National Cultural Commission), and Mr. Alvis Waso (National Museum and Art Gallery).
He credited their dedication and tireless work, despite limited funding, for keeping the tourism, arts, and culture sectors functioning. He also expressed gratitude to MRDC and other corporate sponsors.
The minister stressed the untapped economic potential of tourism and encouraged optimism, despite challenges in safety and infrastructure.
"Many parts of our country remain unexplored," he stated, advocating for an environment favorable to visitors. Critical enablers include tourism-specific police divisions, anti-littering laws, clean cities, and safer public spaces.
Namah proposed infrastructure initiatives such as new sea terminals in coastal provinces to accommodate cruise liners, and a nationwide emergency response system for tourists. He also addressed high airfare costs, urging national airlines to lower prices and consider baggage exemptions for tourist equipment.
Namah outlined plans to transition the tourism sector into a self-sustaining industry through regulation and revenue generation, including rebranding the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) to the “Papua New Guinea Tourism Authority” with expanded regulatory powers.
He also aims to elevate the National Cultural Commission and National Museum and Art Gallery to full authorities.
To maximize impact, the minister proposed creating seven tourism zones across PNG as flagship destinations. He underscored PNG's rich cultural diversity, with over 800 languages, distinct tribal customs, and natural beauty, stating: "There is no country on planet Earth like Papua New Guinea. Our best product is our culture!”
He also called for better programming of cultural events to attract visitors, as Namah envisioned PNG increasing its annual tourist intake from 130,000 to over a million through strategic investments in infrastructure, safety, and marketing.
"Tourism can be like discovering three gold mines (that are) sustainable, inclusive, and long-term. But we must take the first step, and that step starts now,” he said.
"Many parts of our country remain unexplored. We must create an environment that is favorable and appealing to our visitors,” the minister added.
Among the critical enablers he identified were tourism-specific police divisions, anti-littering and anti-loitering laws, clean towns and cities, and safer public spaces for both locals and tourists. Namah emphasized that first impressions matter, calling for better public cleanliness and urban order as core tourism “products.”
Namah proposed building new sea terminals across coastal provinces, enabling cruise liners and tourist vessels to dock directly to local communities. Citing visits to places like Milne Bay Province and Rabaul-East New Britain Province, he noted the lack of such infrastructure as a major barrier to growth.
Equally pressing, he said, is the need for a nationwide emergency response system to ensure swift evacuation and medical attention for tourists in the event of crises.
Marape: Tourism's ‘Transformative Potential’
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape officially launched the conference, emphasizing tourism's potential to transform PNG’s economy. He highlighted tourism's role in economic growth and cultural preservation, alongside agriculture and fisheries, as a driver of sustainable development.
Marape reiterated the call for collaboration to unlock the full value of the tourism industry and acknowledged Minister Namah’s strategic approach to revive the sector. He recognized the role of stakeholders, including those from the extractive resource sector like MRDC.
He pointed to the success of the Connect PNG infrastructure program, which is opening remote areas and creating economic corridors for tourism. This initiative is setting the stage for PNG’s anticipated entry into the NRL from 2028.
“Tourism has enormous potential in our nation. Dreams do come true, I’ve seen it happen,” Marape said, encouraging international investment and acknowledging companies like Digicel and industry pioneers such as Bob Bates.
Marape reaffirmed PNG’s strategic advantage in the region, highlighting neighboring tourism markets and promoting PNG on international visits. He noted PNG’s movement toward full ASEAN membership, offering access to a 500 million-strong population.
“With 134 million outbound Chinese tourists last year alone, we must tap into these markets. We're improving flight routes and airport infrastructure to support international tourism, especially from Asia,” the premier said.
Marape urged collective action to drive success in the tourism sector, stating: “Let’s celebrate our country's natural beauty and cultural wealth. Instead of dwelling on negativity, we must work together to drive success and growth in our tourism sector.”
The first day featured a traditional singsing and addresses from key figures, including Eric Mossman Uvovo, CEO of PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, and Mano. Sessions covered sector updates, sustainable tourism, and business development & finance access.
Day two focused on investment and infrastructure, with case studies on hospitality investment and sports tourism. Sessions addressed the Connect PNG program, aviation development, destination marketing, and the future of PNG tourism branding.
The conference concluded with a Gala Dinner celebrating PNG’s 50th year in global tourism, recognizing key contributors to the sector's development. The outcomes are expected to shape future strategies and policies supporting inclusive growth, investment, and global partnerships in tourism.
