Negative reporting on law, order hinders tourism: Agus

THE negative reporting in the media on law and order is the main hindrance to tourism growth in the country, Tourism Promotion Authority chief executive officer Jerry Agus says.
Agus said the media could assist in improving the image of the country.
He told a media get-together organised by TPA about how the media played a crucial role in promoting tourism.
“You see, we do not have car bombings, hijackings or shooting unnecessarily like what happens elsewhere,” Agus said.
“But the negative image that Papua New Guinea is a dangerous place hinders tourism development in the country.” He said the Tourism Promotion Authority was engaging with the media to promote the industry because tourism was a cross-cutting issue, benefiting all sectors in the community.
He said tourism also depended on good infrastructure such as good roads, jetties and wharves, efficient flight connectivity, taxi service, customer service and the media, among others.
“Growing tourism in the country is everyone’s job and one important sector and partner is the media as the media plays a vital role in promoting the industry and improving the image of the country,” Agus said.
“With the initiative, we want to engage them on the media and also educate them on what we are doing.
“We also understand that while the media wants to sell its papers, we also feel that media as a partners in development can also help to promote good image by not very much publishing negative news all the time, as it goes viral at this time of the technological age.”