Partners in supporting Papua New Guinea tourism

Caption: Barry Greville-Eyres (left) and senior PNG Tourism Promotion Authority staff Alcinda Trawen and Jerry Agus show some of the tourism publications and reference material donated by Co-op Bookshop in Brisbane

A Brisbane-based bookstore and a tourism development practitioner have made a valuable donation of tourism publications and reference material to the Tourism Promotion Authority.

The Co-op Bookshop and tourism development practitioner Barry Greville-Eyres handed over the publications to TPA’s policy and planning manager Jerry Agus.

 “The authority values strategic partner contributions especially at a time when TPA is implementing its tourism master plan,” Mr Agus said.

“TPA envisages that the master plan will be translated into a series of sustainable tourism development initiatives, generating local economic empowerment and prosperity for PNG’s rural and urban communities alike.”

 This also happens to coincide with an anticipated bumper festive season which could see an influx of international visitors despite the recent global financial crisis.

University of Queensland’s Prof Roy Ballantyne confirmed that UQ’s school of tourism had recently entered into dialogue with TPA on how both organisations can collaborate towards their mutual benefit.

 “As neighbours – sharing unique yet complimentary tourism products and experiences, it makes strategic sense exploring joint tourism opportunities - research, teaching, learning, marketing and development - as part of an innovative and exciting country to country or regional tourism initiative,” Prof Ballantyne said.