Papua New Guinea (PNG) attend the recent weeklong South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) Meeting that concluded on the 20th of October with the South Pacific Tourism Minister’s Council Meeting in Tahiti’s Capital Papeete. PNG was represented at the SPTO Meeting by a delegation that was headed by and included the Minister for Tourism Arts & Culture, Mr. Henry Isi Leonard, and Executive Director of the National Cultural Commission Mr. Steven Kilanda. The meeting comprised of two panel discussions comprised of Tourism Minister’s from countries across the Pacific. As a panellist in the Council of Tourism Minister, MP Leonard emphasized the need for cultural tourism. “There is demand for authentic cultural products in the tourism market today. People want to see authentic tourism products.” “However, the challenge for us Pacific Islanders is how do we protect our authentic cultural heritage whilst participating in the economic benefits that tourism brings.” To conclude the 2nd SPTO Meeting, Minister Leonard placed a bid to host the 4th SPTO Meeting in PNG. “It is an ideal opportunity for other Pacific Leaders and delegation to meeting and celebrate Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Anniversary together in the true Pacific Way.” Meanwhile, SPTO Chief Executive Officer Christopher Coker said as the regional body that focusses on promoting and supporting tourism in the Pacific, they were very impressed with the participants from across 21 Pacific Islands. The two major agendas discussed by the Council of Tourism Ministers were on Improving Regional Air Connectivity and on Future Focused Partnership in the region. The respective Tourism Ministers had an intensive dialogue around the critical links between tourism and aviation and as regional air, connectivity is recolonized as a key priority in the SPTOs regional plan to harness the huge untapped tourism potential in the Pacific. Recognizing tourism as a key economic driver in the region, it has the potential to generate wealth and improve the lives whilst ensuring the protection and management of the environment and eco-system through sustainable tourism in the region.