Green shoots for the tourism sector

Papua New Guinea received over 210,000 visitors in 2019, on the back of several years of steady growth. That momentum was lost during COVID-19, and the key to it being regained lies in PNG successfully re-engaging with the international market.

There’s also the challenge of addressing the social disruption caused by the large job losses in the industry in 2020.

“We understand the challenge that the sector has faced with COVID-19, and we understand that there are challenges that we will face coming back,” Eric Mossman Uvovo, CEO of the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), says. “2023 is a year we expect going into full swing, especially promoting and marketing.”

As well as re-branding and launching a new online booking platform in 2023, he says the TPA is focused on product development – working with industry to create travel products that are easier to promote, sell and deliver.

These will be around some of PNG’s most attractive niche tourism offerings: cultural festivals, historical tourism, as well as diving, surfing and birdwatching.

Another initiative, with Air Niugini, has seen the TPA commit PGK500,000 to subsidise domestic tour packages sold through the airline and to promote inbound tourism from Australia.

Meanwhile, cruise ship visits to PNG are expected to reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels in 2023, after a gradual return in 2022.

“In 2019, we had about 54,000 cruise passengers. From the confirmed calls that the agents have given us, we are expecting about 84,000 cruise passengers this year. That is a significant leap for the cruise tourism industry,” says Uvovo.

Some of the cruise lines returning are P&O, Princess Cruises, Coral Expeditions, Holland America Line, Silversea Cruises and Ponant.

Jeff Gillies, the commercial director for Coral Expeditions, says the pent-up demand for PNG cruises is strong.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a 2016 survey showed that each individual ship visit can generate up to PGK235,000 in direct spending.

Mindful of the need to increase the economic benefits of cruise visits, Uvovo says the TPA is focused on building more capacity and facilities at key locations such as Rabaul and Milne Bay, helping to train operators and develop more local tourism products.

“We are also expanding the ports of arrival to include Vanimo and Wewak, and looking at how we can connect flights to complement the arrival of the cruise ships,” he says.

Also reopening from April 2023 will be a long-term staple of PNG’s tourism industry: the iconic Kokoda Trail.

Around 3500 people normally walk the demanding 96-kilometre track annually. While even a partial return will be welcomed, there is work to be done to get the trail back to its best.

“There’s pent-up demand, but the state of the trail will limit its potential,” says veteran guide Charlie Lynn, who’s trekked the trail 100 times as operator of Adventure Kokoda. Major upgrades are needed after several quiet years, he observes.

The TPA’s Uvovo agrees.

“We want to focus on Kokoda and assist in ensuring that we have those basic soft infrastructures built in Kokoda to enhance the product. By that, I mean building proper toilets and seller facilities along the track,” he says.

For those travelling by air, a major upgrade of airports is under way by the National Airports Corporation under the Asian

A major upgrade of airports is under way by the National Airports Corporation.

Development Bank-funded Civil Aviation Development Investment Program. This is seeing major improvements, including runway extensions, terminal upgrades and improved safety facilities. A new terminal at Kavieng Airport opened in late 2022, while a state-of-the-art terminal will open in Lae in mid-2023. To follow are upgrades at Gurney (Milne Bay), Kiunga (Western Province), Aropa (Bougainville), Wewak (East Sepik), Hoskins (West New Britain) and Port Moresby’s international airport.

Longer term, the PNG Government has flagged its desire to create some Tourism Special Economic Zones to encourage investment in the sector, starting with Rabaul in East New Britain. This looks set to see further investment in Tokua Airport and its environs.

BY PAUL CHAI