PNG Tourism Records 6 Years of Positive Growth

Papua New Guinea – like every place you’ve never been. That’s been the catch-phrase of the 2008 marketing campaign of the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) and it seems as if it’s been working quite well. The PNGTPA recently announced in its’ January 2009 Garamut Newsletter that the number of arrivals into PNG has, at the end of December 2008, increased by 15% when compared to the same period in 2007.

While many other destinations around the globe experienced negative results in their arrivals, the total number of short-term international visitor arrivals to PNG was 120,139 at the end of December 2008. This marks a significant 15% increase compared to 104,122 arrivals in 2007. The most impressive thing about the feat is that PNG has now experienced six consecutive years of growth since 2003 which is an incredible positive indication of tourism development within the country.

The niche sectors of diving, trekking and culture visits were the major highlights. Of the total arrivals, 34%were holiday makers while the other 45% were business travellers. Holiday segment arrivals increased strongly by +25% with VFR +11% and business by +23%.

There was a strong growth in the first, second and third quarters, but in the fourth quarter arrivals slowed due to the current world economic climate.

The following graphs indicate arrivals growth ending 2007 (the statistics for tourism growth for 2008 have not been included – yet):

NOTE:

For more statistics regarding the 2007 PNG Visitors Arrival Summary click here.

~ by Tavurvur on February 4, 2009.