By Sasha Pei-Silovo – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Member for Kundiawa-Gembogl, Tobias Kulang, wants a total revamp of Tourism Promotion Authority’s (TPA) marketing strategy and activities.
Tourism offers great potential for PNG, with it being one of the world’s largest industries, and the fastest growing sector generating approximately 10 per cent of world GDP in 2015. The travel and tourism sector remains one of the strongest drivers of world trade and prosperity.
The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority is the state agency responsible for marketing PNG as a desirable tourist destination; however, minister responsible Tobias Kulang has described TPA’s marketing strategy as being ineffective and lacking innovation to meet today’s marketing trends.
Since taking office in April, Minister Kulang has been critical of TPA’s performance, which he says, is questionable given tourist arrival statistics and the current destination marketing campaigns. He feels they are not doing enough to improve the country’s brand and image, and to lure tourists into choosing PNG as an ideal travel destination.
The tourism marketing workshop saw those in the tourism industry from tour operators to hoteliers, airline companies, and other stakeholders, including the media, meet to discuss ways forward to boost tourism in PNG.
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