Industry hit by restrictions

The impacts of the Covid-19 on the tourism industry in Port Moresby is devastating. The hotel industry was hit hard, Dr BETTY HAIVERAVA-LAUFA, National Capital District Tourism coordinator, writes

TOURISM, a major economic driver and an extremely important industry in many countries around the world, is sadly the hardest hit since the onset of the Covid-19 which was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic last March 11 by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Border restrictions imposed around the world to counter the spread of the Covid-19 virus since had led to the global tourism industry been adversely impacted, with the number of international tourists from origin markets severely dropped.
From January to June last year, international arrivals by air to Papua New Guinea was 32,805 – dominantly for business and employment purposes.
It was 75,556 for the same period in 2019 – a drop of around 57 per cent.
Cruise ship visits was nil. (PNG TPA 2020).
The tourism industry in PNG is obviously not immune to the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
And the National Capital District (NCD) in particular has witnessed tourism enterprises and related businesses suffering massive loses even to the verge of closing, and for some, closure, with livelihoods disrupted.
The delightful sight of foreign tourists visiting places, going to the shopping malls or even seen appreciating aspects of our traditional cultures at the craft markets has been missing.
How long will this be is anyone’s guess.
A closer look at the NCD tourism sector was prompted, with an impact assessment survey conducted between last September and October by the author who coordinates the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) Tourism office.
It revealed interesting responses from tourism stakeholders and tourism product owners on the extent of impact of the pandemic on tourism in the NCD.
According to the chief executive officer of the Port Moresby Nature Park, there was a massive drop in park visits from 70,346 visitors between March and August 2019 to 42,435 over the same period in 2020.
This is a drop of 40 per cent.
Aside from this, there were a lot of disruptions in park activities from the cancellation of traditional, yearly activities and research programmes, the adequate caring of animals, including the vulnerable, extinct and endangered wildlife species to downsizing of its workforce.
Even the park’s souvenir shop was not able to buy anymore from local artisans as there were no tourists visiting the park.
It was the same scenario with shops in the city.
This meant that local artisans’ earnings were disrupted.
While that was the case at the park, good Samaritans such as the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and the British High Commission paid entry fees especially for students and teachers in Port Moresby schools and the disadvantaged group of population to access park facilities for their purposes.
Such supportive initiatives ensured the park had visits even during the pandemic period apart from the park’s own strategies.
The hotel industry was another hard-hit accommodation and service provider.
The Ela Beach Hotel and the Holiday Inn Express were facing closure then due to lack of visitors and tourists staying at the hotels and using the hotel service and facilities.
Room occupancy rates dropped drastically low at all other major hotels and commercial accommodation businesses.
Operations only started picking up around the last quarter of 2020, particularly with the food and beverages facilities especially at major hotels which were in demand to city residents opting to dine out, among other reasons.
Other service providers include lodges, with one faced with massive losses in the tourism business near Owers’ Corner, due to the shut-down of Kokoda Track for at least two years. Livelihoods were affected by this.
Trekkers especially from abroad use other services and facilities in NCD when transiting.
While the airlines were severely affected, travel agents such as the PNG Explorers International, Mix Travel Limited and others inevitably faced massive cancellations of tour reservations.
Other tourism-connected service-providers, including rental cars, dry cleaning, barber shops, florists and gift shops all witnessed a lack of customers.
The informal sector was no different where local arts and craft vendors at various locations in the city confirmed that they have been struggling to make ends meet as many of them depend on the sale of their artefacts and handicrafts to mostly tourists.
Local perceptions on tourism especially before the pandemic have been more connected with international visitors and tourists coming to explore and appreciate the various aspects our country has to offer guests.
But domestic tourism has been in existence since the early days.
Domestic tourism is still in existence one way or another, commonly known as local tourism.
Until international tourism returns to normal, it is everyone’s business to continue to ensure tourism is kept alive in Port Moresby.

Dr Betty Haiverava-Laufa, National Capital District Tourism coordinator