Over K30 million was injected into the country from tourism alone this year, marking a significant boost for the tourism sector and the country’s economy. This figure comes from a recent report released by the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA), showing an estimated US$23 million or K38 million injected into the country’s economy by tourists in 2024, marking a promising outlook for the nation’s tourism sector. According to the TPA, the total number of visitors arriving by air in August 2024 reached 9, 222, highlighting the country’s ongoing appeal to international travelers. A noteworthy 2% increase in visitor arrivals from Australia compared to August last year underlines the importance of the Australian market, which remains PNG’s largest source of visitors with the country still accounting for 39% of all arrivals, while China had the lowest representation at just 0.1%. Business travel also showed positive growth with a 2% increase in business travelers this August compared to the same period last year. The employment sector saw a substantial rise, with 36% of visitors coming for work purposes, which demonstrated the country’s appeal as an emerging destination for employment opportunities. TPA’s CEO, Mr. Eric Mossman Uvovo highlighted the significance of PNG as a unique destination. "The steady growth we are seeing in visitor numbers, particularly from our key markets like Australia, shows that our country is not only a hub for tourism but also an attractive destination to work and play,” said the CEO. “The fact that over a third of visitors are coming for work shows the global appeal of Papua New Guinea, with each visitor contributing to our economy. PNG will remain committed to providing a million different journeys for tourists and business travelers alike," Mr. Uvovo added. Uvovo also said that the organization will continue to provide enriching experience to all visitors coming into the country. “Our focus at TPA remains on delivering a memorable experience for every visitor, whether they are here for work or leisure. With exciting new initiatives and partnerships in the pipeline, we are confident that our tourism industry will continue to thrive,” said Mr. Uvovo.