The Japan Osaka Expo has a special ring to Tourism Arts and Culture as it does to international trade and investment. Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Belden Namah said this during the official launching of the PNG Osaka Expo last week at the National Parliament by Prime Minister James Marape. Minister Namah stated that Papua New Guinea should see Japan as a major tourism partner because Japan has more interest in PNG’s War relics and historical sites in Rabaul, Bougainville, Milne Bay and many other sites in the country. “Japan is also one of the consumers for PNG LNG and in attending the Tourism Resilience Conference last year in November, I saw a huge potential for both countries to tap into not only for Trade and Intvestment but also in tourism. Japan’s second biggest GDP is tourism after automobile, and I am asking the government to reconsider reopening Air Niugini flights to Japan. I am asking for the reopening of flights to Japan because I have great confidence in Japan that Japan can become a major tourism partner to PNG. Japan has also contributed so much to our economy, Japan funded the Nadzab Tomodachi international airport and Japan has great interest in the fishing industry in the country so why don't we utilize the Jackson International Airport and the Lae International airport to start sending fresh Tuna to Japan, these are opportunities that PNG can tap into,” Mr. Namah said. He added that with Japan there is a huge potential in the international trade and investment, tourism arts and culture so let us take the Japan Osaka Expo as an opportunity to showcase PNG’s authentic art and culture in Japan. “Japan is one country in the world that promote Indigenous art and culture, and we can tap into that market as a country. We are also best placed in the world to show our incredibly diversity in arts and culture, traditions, languages and tourist attractions in PNG. PNG should have a culture office in Japan within our existing embassy in Japan,” he said. Mr. Namah added that as a nation in the tourism sector, they will be hosting a PNG Tourism conference in April 2025.