TPA plans to improve tourism

The National Business

By KELVIN JOE
THE Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) has a plan to improve and make the tourism sector a major revenue hub over the next five years.

Prime Minister James Marape, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Isi Henry Leonard, Tourism Promotion Authority chairman and Nawaeb MP Kennedy Wenge, and chief executive officer Eric Mossman Uvovo launched the five-year tourism sector development plan 2022-2026 in Port Moresby last Wednesday.
Leonard said the plan set the roadmap for the Government through the TPA to guide the overall development of tourism in the next five years, starting next year.
“This significant strategy document is framed on the recognition that tourism is a key resource in the renewable sector of the economy and that its contribution to the PNG economy and society needs to be fully tapped based on a strong sector plan,” he said.
“It is through this plan that interventions will be developed and mounted, and efforts of all stakeholders are coordinated and synergised to create the desired impact on the goals and vision of the sector, and ultimately on the PNG economy and society.”
He said the plan had seven key strategies and priority areas to achieve the long term goals and vision of the tourism industry.
The strategies include:

  • INCREASE international visitor numbers to PNG with the aim of increasing the capital contribution of international visitors to local businesses and the PNG economy;
  • INCREASE domestic visitor numbers to provinces and local tourism sites with the aim of increasing local capital contribution to local business, the provincial and national economy;
  • STRENGTHEN and improve the management, financial and operational capacity of tourism suppliers and operators with the aim of improving their overall efficiency and their capacity to supply high quality tourism services and products;
  • IMPROVE the quality and diversity of tourism products and services provided by suppliers and operators with the aim of creating a niche and attractive market, a competitive advantage for PNG tourism and raising the overall demand for PNG as a globally recognized tourism destination;
  • STRENGTHENING tourism regulations and standards with the aim of improving compliance, service and product quality, and maintaining a high level of hospitality standards;
  • STRENGTHENING key tourism enablers within the economy with the aim of providing critical enabling support to excel the growth of PNG Tourism and,
  • STRENGTHENING tourism leadership, synergy and coordination among all sector stakeholders with the aim of improving sector steering and direction, cooperation and performance.