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Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) launched the new National Tourism Policy 2025-2045 on Tuesday 18 November 2025, developed with support from the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI). The policy establishes a 20-year roadmap for developing a resilient tourism sector that drives sustainable and inclusive economic growth while preserving Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) cultural and natural heritage.

Writing in the policy’s foreword, Eric Mossman Uvovo, PNGTPA chief executive officer, stated that, “as one of the fastest growing socio-economic sectors, tourism has the innate potential to stimulate growth, create decent jobs and business opportunities, and improve livelihoods.”

The policy aims to increase the supply of quality visitor experiences, achieve global benchmarks in sustainable tourism, strengthen PNG’s competitiveness as a niche tourism destination, and increase the value of tourism to employment, revenues, and small and medium enterprise growth. To achieve these goals, the policy is framed around 15 priority policy areas and identifies specific actions and responsible partners to address each area.

“Our National Tourism Policy marks a new chapter for tourism in Papua New Guinea. It is focused on maximizing tourism opportunities and will position the sector as a pillar of inclusive and sustainable national development,” said Honorable Belden Norman Namah, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Developed through consultations with public, private, and community tourism stakeholders, the policy represents a shared vision for tourism and a whole-of-government commitment to supporting development of the sector. Implementation of the policy will be led by the PNGTPA and monitored by the Parliamentary Committee for Tourism, Arts and Culture.

“The policy’s success will depend on commitment from all stakeholders, not just the Tourism Promotion Authority, to continued dialogue and to ensuring that it is implemented with sustainability and inclusion in mind,” said Soon Chan Hong, Asian Development Bank Country Operations Head in his remarks at the launch.

PSDI commenced support for the development of the policy in 2023. This included assisting the PNGTPA with the stakeholder consultation phase and the drafting of the document for Government endorsement.

“I would like to thank PSDI. Without your support, without your input, I don’t think we would have reached this milestone,” said Mr, Uvovo at the launch.

Participants at the launch of the PNG National Tourism Policy 2025-2045.

ADB Papua New Guinea Country Operations Manager, Soon Chan Hong, delivering remarks at the launch.

Honorable Belden Norman Namah, MP, Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture delivering the keynote address.

PSDI's Sustainable Tourism Specialist, Jennifer Bartlett, and speakers at the launch of the National Tourism Policy 2025-2045.