PNG Tourism Promotion Authority Launches Corporate Plan, 2023-2026

THE Tourism Promotion Authority proudly launched its four-year Corporate Plan 2023-2026, at The Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby, last week Friday 17th March, 2023. 

Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Isi Henry Leonard, was present at the momentous occasion to officially launch the newly developed Corporate Plan. 

“The country’s tourism industry is a thriving sector that has so much potential and is integral to PNG’s development agenda.  Being the statutory body established by the Government to manage and promote the country’s tourism interest to the world, PNG TPA needs a clear directive to achieving its mandated tasks; and this policy document has been produced to direct its mission and purpose to achieving just that,” Minister Leonard said. 

He added, “The previous Corporate Strategy expired in 2014, which means the agency has been operating over the last eight years without one in place”

“The re-emergence of a new Corporate Strategy demonstrates a renewed and stronger commitment by PNG TPA to make a positive difference in growing the tourism sector”

Hon. Isi Leonard further stated, “The PNGTPA Corporate Plan 2023-2026 sets a clear vision for the agency and articulates well what PNGTPA will do in the next four years, consistent with the Tourism Promotion Authority Act and the Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026.”

Minister Leonard also recalled the devastating impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the travel industry worldwide, especially the resulting loss of trillions of US dollars in international tourism receipts.     

He also pointed out PNG TPA’s shift in focus of its promotions towards domestic tourism, declaring that the Corporate Plan will be able to assist and guide the organisation in developing this overlooked area of destination marketing.         

Chief Executive Officer of the PNG TPA, Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo, opened the event with an official welcome to the Tourism Minister; including the heads of PNG TPA’s sister agencies under the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture: the National Cultural Commission and the National Museum and Art Gallery; as well as other distinguished heads and representatives from PNG’s tourism industry, and its stakeholder partners from the private and public sector.

In his speech, CEO Uvovo emphasised how his organisation’s four-year Corporate Plan was developed to align itself with the Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026, which was launched last year. 

“The Corporate Plan is the operation plan of the bigger plan – the Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026.   The Corporate Plan 2023-2026 is a small strategic plan that spins the wheels of the bigger plan – the TSDP 2022-2026,” explained Mr. Uvovo.     

He stressed that his responsibility as CEO, and that of the senior management of the PNG TPA, was to successfully implement the corporate plan. 

Mr Uvovo also mentioned in his speech that the PNG TPA’s priority for the year 2023 is dedicated to reviewing the current National Tourism Policy 1995, and formulating a new National Tourism Policy Framework that will guide PNG’s tourism growth into the future.

The new PNG TPA Corporate Plan has seven strategic priorities, these are:

1. Expanding Global, Regional and Domestic Reach  
2. Accelerating Tourism Investment through SMART Policies and Plans;  
3. Raising the Levels of Tourism Service Education and Management;  
4. Maximizing Value from Tourism Research and Monitoring;  
5. Strengthening Tourism Product Development for Sustainable Tourism;
6. Maintaining Excellence in Corporate Governance and Performance; and  
7. Providing Effective Services through Human Resource, ICT and Financial Management.

These seven priorities are also derived from the Tourism Sector Development Plan 2022-2026. 

The Corporate Plan 2023-2026 is available for download online via the PNG TPA’s corporate website: www.papuanewguinea.travel/corporate-site