Tourism industry across the Pacific island economies are experiencing a rebound with Asian Development Bank (ADB) giving a cautious outlook due to rising inflation and risk of disasters.
Fiji, apart from other Pacific island economies is leading the way with impressive tourism dollar reported for 2023.
Fiji earned a total of $2.3billion from tourism in 2023, an increase of 57.9 per cent from 2022, according to the latest data from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics while PNG earned USD 120 million (PGK 400 million) as reported by The Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA).
Statistics published by Pacific Tourism Organisation 2023 visitor arrival statistics shows that Fiji had 679,000 visitors in 2023 and Palau 11,000. PNG Tourism Authority reported 200,000 visitors for PNG in 2023.
In PNG, there is been strong push my current Minister for Minister for International Trade and Investment for PNG to look to strengthen trade relationship with China, Indonesia and other Asian economies whilst criticizing Australia, a traditional trading partner.
Maru was very direct at the Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Forum and Trade Expo held in Port Moresby last year as reported by The Interpreter.
“Enough is enough,” he said, complaining that two-way trade between the countries had been heavily skewed in Australia’s favor for nearly 50 years.
China would be PNG’s focus for trade and investment opportunities, Maru went on to say, because not enough was being done to assist PNG’s agriculture exports to Australia.
The Marape Government has since made a historic decision to establish for the first time, the National Trade Commission Service, starting with establishing eight new Trade Missions around the world this year with the first Trade Mission to be established in Shanghai, China.
While the heat is on Agriculture, the tourism industry in PNG is set to make a splash with Governor of National Capital District, Powes Parkop gearing up to host what he calls “China Ready Workshop” on the 25 April 2024 to provide an opportunity for industry stakeholders to come together and engage in discussions vital to the future of tourism in Port Moresby, the nation’s capital city.
“The China Ready initiative, spearheaded by the NCD Governor and PNGTPA since July 2023, aims to position Port Moresby as a premier destination for Chinese tourists.
“Through a comprehensive approach encompassing cultural enrichment, infrastructure enhancement, and targeted promotional campaigns, efforts are being made to elevate Port Moresby’s allure to Chinese travelers ” Governor Parkop said in a statement.
China is now the world’s biggest outbound travel source, with spending by Chinese tourists exceeding $250 billion annually according to World Tourism Organization 2023 report on Chinese tourism expenditure.
The “China Ready Workshop” in Port Moresby reflects PNG’s efforts to close this gap and capture a slice of the booming Chinese tourism market.
However, there are concerns about how much the “China Ready” initiative will benefit PNG communities. Concerns include potential strain on infrastructure, cultural appropriation, and limited local business involvement.
