Liklik Diwai 3rd Turism Expo
Melanesian Tourist Services
Official Speech Draft
(15 Minutes Presentation Time)
Venue: SDVMA
Time: 0900hrs
Date 14th May, 2010
Presenter: Nathan LATI
Theme: In Partnership for Quality Development in PNG Tourism & Hospitality Industry
Presentation Topic: Impediments in Partnership for Tourism Development (Travel Agent Perspective)
Introduction
Greetings and Acknowledgement
On behalf of my employer Melanesian Tourist services, I take this opportunity to thank the THMD4’s, the organizing committees of this year’s Liklik Diwai Turism Expo for extending your invitation to me as pioneer of the Expo.
I acknowledge the presence of Mr. Hideo Kamioka of PNG Japan International; Mr. Jerry Agus of TPA, other invited & distinguish guests, students, lecturers, ladies and gentle man.
Generalization of the topic
The Tourism Industry is one of the unique industries we have in PNG that is proficient at distributing wealth equally at all levels. The concept to develop tourism in PNG is new and at its infant stage. Obviously, at this stage our focus is on attracting international tourists into the country and efforts have been independently contributed by few of the Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Airline companies, Hotels, Lodges, Dive Operators to market PNG as one of the tourist destinations in the pacific.
The other impediment that lapse the tourism industry in PNG is the government’s ignorance in funding direct incentives for all destination promoters and recognize the individual efforts contributed to development of tourism infrastructures and marketing as well.
A direct incentive for tour operators and hoteliers in PNG to participate at the international tourism expos to promote PNG as a tourist destination has never been considered and marketing efforts by individuals in the tourism industry have been exhausted.
It is sad to see we are missing chances on annual and major destinations marketing events of the world like; ITB Berlin, World Travel Mart in London, and the recent PATA Expo in China.
The idea related to the theme ‘’Partnership for Quality Development for Tourism & Hospitality’’ is very significant theme that is not barely for this event only but it sends out clear message from the tourism students of DWU to the industry role players and other stake holders concern to look into partnership strategies and make the tourism industry looks more sustainable without fractions operating in isolation. The challenge is in the hands of our government and other statutory authorities concern to review tourism polices that seems to be in fragmented structure hence recoup and regenerate with feasible polices to develop tourism at this 20th Century arena.
Observation of the industry as Tour and Cruise Ships Agent
Since PNG’s focus is more into attracting international tourist, the service providers, resources owners and industry players should work collaboratively and make PNG an attractive destination for tourists in the Pacific. There are certain few addressable issues in PNG that turns away most of the tourists that choose PNG as one of their desired holiday destination, our services to international tourists are accustomed with our Melanesian culture and that has no question to argue as our services with courtesy are well regard by most of the tourists. We can be proud of Airways Hotel’s achievement as one of the best International Airport Hotels in the world, Madang Resort & Kalibobo Village as an Ideal conference venue in the Pacific and other hospitality, dive or tour operator’s services are well regarded by international tourists. We have the best birding, diving spots in the world with unique and diverse cultures. The sea and white sandy beaches with tropical climate and fruits/vegetables have potential to attract more tourists from temperate countries who are seeking holidays out of winter or from other European countries too.
The challenge now is how we can make our county’s potential tourist information available to the tourist generating countries.
As part of the tourism industry, cruise ship and yachts coming into PNG bringing in more international tourists have been tangled with different policies from various regulating authorities and attempts to resolve some of the issues involving MTS as Cruise Ship and Yacht’s agent are ongoing as polices differ with office locations despite of operating under one authority.
As such polices are specifically designed for service fees and other related services rendered by authorities like NAQIA, Customs, Immigration, Health, Division of Maritime and transport, their inconsistency in policies leaves much difficulty for cruise ship owners and agents to work collaborative to provide services that will make the cruise ship industry promising to PNG.
From what I understand we seem to look at cruise ships as a milking cow of the day and does not bother making them being a repeat cruise ship operator in PNG bringing more tourists.
Our expectations and perceptions towards tourist must be changed and individuals must venture into spin-offs benefits of the industry.
Experience as a graduate employee
Over many years MTS has had to deal with the inconsistencies with various Government Agencies such as Immigration, Customs, PNG Ports and Quarantine. We have on many occasions called for meetings between the various bodies to discuss the inconsistent interpretation of rules and the application of various fees. Just getting authorities to understand the difference between cruise ships and motor yachts has been a major frustration. When you look at the tourism legislation in place one can see why these inconsistencies exist.
A partnership strategy and policies are critically needed to enhance tourism industry to grow amicably for naturally tourism industry is a service linking industry and will ever operate in isolation. I hope this theme for the ‘3rd Liklik Diwai Turism Expo’ lives on.
The challenge now is in the hands of our government and statutory authorities concern to make the tourism industry conducive for all industry players by reviewing and redesigning of industry policies, partnership strategies and destination marketing must be prioritized.
We PNG should be proud because we have abundance to offer to tourists; our agenda now is the collaborative effort to promote tourism development at all levels.
For further articles, please refer to the link below.
http://www.dwu.ac.pg/news/2010/Tourism_body_lauds_Expo.html
Nathan LATI
MTS Operations
Madang
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