The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority in partnership with the Pacific Trade Invest Australia, successfully delivered a Digital Workshop to strengthen Digital Tourism.
The ADT PNG Digital Tourism Workshop started on Tuesday 24th June at the Lamana Conference Centre in Port Moresby.
The full-day event brought together key tourism stakeholders and operators to explore innovative digital ideas.
Trade Commissioner for PTI Australia, Tim Martin, spoke about PTI Australia’s Digital Tourism Program, a long-running initiative supporting Pacific tourism operators with tools and training to improve their digital capabilities.
Martin introduced the Digital Tourism Program as well as highlighting the importance of strengthening online visibility and bookings for PNG tourism businesses.
“Digital transformation is not a luxury it’s a necessity. PTI Australia is proud to walk alongside PNG’s tourism operators as they embrace digital tools that connect them directly to the global traveler,” Martin said.
The core of the day’s program was delivered by Craig Smith from Counterpoint, PTI Australia’s digital service provider, who led the technical training.
“The goal is to turn your websites into your most powerful sales agents. With the right strategies, even small operators in PNG can reach international markets and increase direct bookings significantly,” Smith said.
The workshop covered essential topics such as strategies to increase direct bookings via websites, leveraging search engine marketing (SEM), balancing OTA partnerships, and creating cost-effective social media campaigns. Attendees also explored how to effectively use Google’s digital tools, including Google My Business and Hotel Ads.
Managing Director for VilLink and the Chairlady for Milne Bay Tourism Association, Maleta Martha Tokwakwasi thanked TPA and PTI for the insightful workshop.
“One of the most valuable takeaways from the workshop is understanding online booking and cancellation policies,” Tokwakwasi said.
“As tourism operators, we need to be prepared when a client changes their mind or cancels, and this session gave us real clarity on how to manage these situations professionally.”
She also added that the training should be conducted at a grassroot level for local tour operators to understand digital tools.
TPA’s Executive Manager for Marketing & Promotions, Joel Keimelo, also highlighted TPA’s role in developing and marketing the country’s unique tourism experiences.
“Papua New Guinea’s tourism sector holds immense potential,” Keimelo said. Through partnerships like this with PTI Australia, we’re equipping our operators with digital capabilities that can unlock new markets and drive sustainable tourism development across the country.”
