MINISTER for Tourism, Art and Culture, Hon. Belden Namah has announced the inaugural Papua New Guinea National Tourism Conference for 2025.
In a media conference on Thursday, Minister Namah said the conference is scheduled to take place in Port Moresby from April 9th– 10th.
He said the conference aimed at bringing together major stakeholders and key experts to engage in collective discussions on best alternatives to set the course for Tourism Industry into the future.
The initiative is a partnership between the Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Papua New Guinea Tourism Industry Association (PNGTIA) which draws opportunity for development in a different perspective where Tourism can be turned into a leading sector and top revenue making sector for the people of PNG.
The conference focuses on the theme “Celebrating our unity in diversity to inspire our future” which calls for determining steps that sets a pathway for economic growth as well elevate individuals in the tourism world.
“I want all of us to embrace the conference as a watershed event, one that draws from the experiences of the last 50 years to inspire and drive tourism towards unprecedented successes,” Minister Namah said.
MRDC Managing Director Mr. Augustine Mano who was present along with Chief Executive of TPA Mr. Eric Mossman, also announced his support towards the significant initiative with a sponsorship of K250 000 to go towards hosting the conference.
Namah acknowledged the sponsorship assistance by the MRDC and aims to work together to unveil some of the potential of tourism.
“We are in better position to show other countries our incredible diversity in arts, culture, traditions, and language and tourism attractions,” Namah said.
“We are best placed to make the world wonder how on earth Papua New Guinea is able to maintain its unity in such extraordinary diversity.”
Minister Namah believes a strong mindset that focus on building tourism is what the conference is going concentrate more on as they aim at creating a thriving space for tourism attractions and pathways that sets a positive outlook to the tourist visitors from outside.
“Let us produce the tourism goods we have control over and let tourists decide at what cost they can afford,” said Namah.
