More visitors despite lift on visa-on-arrival

There has been an increase in Australian visitors to PNG despite the Government lifting the ‘visa-on-arrival’ system.

 

CEO of the Manufacturers' Council of PNG, Chey Scovell, said this during the Australia-PNG Business Council Forum in Port Moresby.

Scovell said it was revealed during the ‘No Border’ session of the forum that the lifting of the visa-on-arrival did not have the expected effect on Australian visitors' numbers.

“In the forum last year we were saying it’s going to be good and well and cut down on the numbers, it didn’t happen," he said.

"It certainly was an administrative burden for people but there was an increase in the number of Australian visitors to Papua New Guinea while that happened.

“With that being said and done, the PNG Government's very proactive in trying to ensure their policy of reciprocity is in place in dealing with Australia and it definitely was celebrated by tourism representatives that Australians could get visa-on-arrival.”

Also highlighted during the session was the recent passing of the Dual Citizenship Act by government and how this is seen to deepen relations between both countries.

Other topics discussed during the session included PACER Plus, regional markets and levels of investment, as well as Tourism.

Loop file pic

Author: 
Cedric Patjole