Minister’s Dire Warning: PNG’s Tourist Numbers Plummet Amid Safety Fears

Minister’s Dire Warning: PNG’s Tourist Numbers Plummet Amid Safety Fears[PNGTA Photo]

​Papua New Guinea (PNG) is facing a significant tourism crisis, with Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Belden Namah warning that the country risks losing out on millions of potential visitors due to ongoing safety concerns. Speaking at the World Tourism Day conference in Port Moresby on Friday, Namah emphasized the urgent need to address these issues to attract more tourists to the nation.

Currently, PNG welcomes only 24,000 tourists annually via cruise ships, a number that Namah believes should be dramatically increased to 2.4 million. He stated that this target should be just the beginning of the country’s ambitions in the tourism sector. “Fiji receives 927,000 tourists annually, and Indonesia, our neighbor, received 11 million last year alone,” he noted, highlighting the stark contrast between PNG and other regional destinations.

The minister further illustrated the disparity in tourist arrivals by citing other popular locations. Bali, for instance, welcomed 5.2 million tourists last year, while Singapore attracted 13 million visitors, and Queensland in Australia saw 25 million tourists. "That’s just one state in Australia," Namah pointed out, underscoring the potential PNG has yet to tap.

Namah stressed that tourism, arts, and culture must be integrated into PNG's economic and security policies to foster growth in the industry. He lamented that tourists are bypassing PNG, citing the lack of peace and safety as key reasons. "Tourists are overflying us, sailing around us, and bypassing PNG because there is no peace here," he stated.

Without guaranteeing the safety of visitors, Namah warned that PNG's tourism sector would continue to suffer. He emphasized that establishing peace is a prerequisite for boosting tourism in the country. "PNG has huge potential; tourism is a pot of gold, but firstly we must establish peace," he affirmed.

Once safety is secured, Namah called for the country to capitalize on that peace by promoting tourism actively. He also highlighted the importance of preserving PNG’s traditional arts and culture, which he views as foundational elements for modern PNG, ensuring they are protected for future generations

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