Need for more investment in PNG’s tourism sector

There’s a need for more investment in the tourism sector in Papua New Guinea.

Tourism Minister Tobias Kulang said the Government is not investing enough in the tourism industry.

Kulang said PNG is not spending enough on tourism promotion compared to other Pacific Island countries.

From statistics provided by the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority, other Pacific Island countries are spending significantly more on tourism development.

The Fiji Government provides an equivalent of K40 million (FJD26 611 275.96) per year to Fiji Visitors Bureau and it gets a return of K2 billion (FJD 1 330 563 798.22).

Cook Islands and Vanuatu’s annual Budgets are an equivalent of K20 million while PNG only budgets K8-10 million per year to the tourism sector.

From the K8-10 million, only K5-6 million is allocated for marketing and promotion.

Kulang said tourism needs more allocation in the annual budget with only K8 million budgeted for in the K16 billion 2016 Budget which is just 0.05 percent of the total budget.

He said there are many benefits of the tourism sector and it should also be a forefront in the country’s economy.

Tourism creates jobs and skills, directly and indirectly and it reduces poverty and law and order problems.

Tourism also creates infrastructure and community amenities and provides tax revenue to deliver increased social services.

Kulang said that more importantly tourism preserves and promotes culture, crafts and heritage.

Picture of Doini Island Plantation Resort in Milne Bay Province courtesy of www.dailytelegraph.com.au

 

Author: 
Quintina Naime