Tourism
From The Report: Papua New Guinea 2016
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While Papua New Guinea remains a relative newcomer to the global tourism stage, international arrivals to the country have risen steadily over the past decade, from just over 69,200 in 2005 to more than 198,600 in 2015, according to data compiled by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. Although notable, most of the increase has been driven by the influx of business travellers and workers that has accompanied PNG’s recent economic growth as opposed to a substantial boost in holidaymakers. This trend has reversed slightly as economic growth has cooled and as segments such as cruise and adventure tourism have taken hold.

This chapter contains an interview with Tobias Kulang, Minister of Tourism.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Profile raising: Overseas promotional campaign stepped up to encourage visitors
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While Papua New Guinea remains a relative newcomer to the global tourism stage, international arrivals to the country have risen steadily over the past decade, from just over 69,200 in 2005 to more than 198,600 in 2015, according to data compiled by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA). Although notable, most of the increase has been driven by the influx of business travellers and workers that has accompanied PNG’s recent economic growth as opposed to a substantial boost in the number of holidaymakers. This…

Interview

Shining a spotlight: OBG talks to Tobias Kulang, Minister of Tourism
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Interview: Tobias Kulang Papua New Guinea received 193,000 visitors in 2015. What explains this relatively low number? TOBIAS KULANG: There are a number of reasons, but the main one is that the country has not been marketed properly over the years. There is a negative perception of the country as a tourism destination, because of law and order problems. I suppose we could be compared to Fiji in this part of the world, a country that receives 1m tourists a year, but certainly not to Australia or…

Analysis

Invest and incentivise: Tax reductions for sector players reflect the industry’s growing importance to the economy
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Vision 2050, Papua New Guinea’s long-term national development strategy, emphasises the tourism industry’s potential to become a key driver of economic growth, particularly with respect to creating rural and urban employment opportunities. A number of incentives to help spur investment in the sector are laid out in the Medium Term Development Plan 2016-17. Incentives There are two main types of incentives: double tax deductions and accelerated depreciation. The former applies to operators…

Analysis

Sports and summits: The capital is growing its capacity and reputation as a host of international events
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When Port Moresby was chosen as the location for the 2015 Pacific Games, some people were concerned. The capital does not have the strongest reputation for safety – although this perception is far removed from reality, according to many who live and work there. In any case, the prospect of having thousands of athletes and their families descend on the city for two weeks sparked concerns about a possible incident. The games, however, went off without a hitch and since then, Port Moresby…

Analysis

Buoyant future: A major study underlines the potential for cruise tourism
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Cruise liner visits are becoming a solid source of tourism revenues for Papua New Guinea and are increasingly being viewed as important to the sector’s development. Travelling by cruise ship is considered an ideal way to explore PNG, as there is the advantage of on-board lodging and amenities, meaning visitors can access remote areas that perhaps lack modern facilities and infrastructure. They also bring tourists directly to their destinations, allowing them to avoid major urban centres. Economic…