A Message for our Tourism Industry

From the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority

COVID-19 TOURISM BUSINESS IMPACT SURVEY

Tuesday 24^th March, 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic & the PNG Tourism Industry

The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority recognizes the unprecedented effect the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the global travel industry as well as to our tourism industry in Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry cuts across the public and private sectors – most notable are airlines, hotels, guest house owners, tour operators, provincial tourism offices, local communities, museums, cultural centers, etc.

Our industry has been one of the hardest-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting both our travel supply and demand:

On 20^th March 2020, the Government of Papua New Guinea confirmed its first case of COVID-19 in the country. Since the confirmation of the nation’s first COVID-19 case, it has taken the concerted efforts of some of the biggest players in our tourism industry and our PNG Government to ensure our ports are impermeable by making the difficult decision to ban international and domestic flights to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

There are ever-evolving challenges our tourism industry will face where each of us – whether as part of a business, organization, corporate body, or MSME will have to make difficult decisions to ensure our industry survives while we work together to combat the spread of COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea.

The PNG TPA is aware that many Papua New Guinean tourism businesses have already made the hard decision of laying-off staff, cancelling major events, and closing down business for an indefinite period.

It is one of the greatest trials our industry is facing in the midst of this global crisis. Nevertheless, history has shown that the global tourism sector has always remained resilient. So we remain positive that the PNG tourism industry will survive this.

The best thing we can all do as members of our tourism industry during this difficult period is to remain positive and help our nation fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

We encourage you to join the fight by assisting our Papua New Guinea Government with its Corona Virus awareness campaign, especially official messages from the Department of Health promoting hygiene and preventative measures. Share this information with your staff, your local suppliers, fellow industry members and local communities. We have a duty of care to each other to prevent the COVID-19 from destroying our beautiful country.

Click: COVID-19 Awareness Materials

Authorized by:

Mr. Jerry Agus

Chief Executive Officer

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority

Tuesday 24^th March, 2020

PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Prevention Measures Against COVID-19 Pandemic

The PNG Tourism Promotion Authority will be carrying out the following prevention measures to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

All international and domestic travel for staff is cancelled;
All TPA events, workshops, conferences and meetings are cancelled.
This includes cancellation and prohibition of client, stakeholder and industry member meetings at the TPA office at the Pacific MMI Building, Downtown, Port Moresby;
Staff are encouraged to conduct meetings online or by phone calls;
Masks and hand-sanitizers will be utilized by staff working at the TPA office reception and the Tourism Information booth at the Jackson’s International Airport.

The PNG TPA will be heavily promoting COVID-19 prevention awareness online and providing regular updates to the general public through a Travel Advice available on our website:

https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/coronavirus-information-travel-advice

Regular updates will also be made to this Tourism Industry Travel Advice page.

The PNG TPA will also share online resources, forecasts and trends with industry members on destination marketing and promotions, especially domestic tourism and traveling in 2021 and beyond. Click the sign-up button below to receive these resources from the PNG TPA.

Join in the conversation and updates on social media with PNG TPA using the following hash-tags:

#PNGTourism

#VisitPNG

#TravelTomorrow

#TourismStrong