ANG’s NEW FLEET OF AIRCRAFTS TO BOOST TOURISM

By Vonu LIBITINO

Air Niugini’s (ANG) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Gary Seddon has advised that without reliable air travel, tourism simply cannot thrive.

Mr Seddon made these remarks as part of a statement on the National Carrier’s fleet modernization program; a program that he says, is expected to boost tourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG), as ANG acts as a primary enabler of domestic and international travel.

Mr Seddon said having an effective airline service, particularly in a country as geographically and topographically diverse and remote as PNG, where many regions are only accessible by air, is crucial for tourism to flourish.

“We have been expanding our domestic and international routes so ANG can connect tourist and business travellers to key domestic and international destinations.”

With an extensive network, ANG is linking PNG’s provinces to the world and vice versa.

By maintaining and expanding domestic routes, we ensure that remote regions in the Highlands, Sepik and New Ireland remain accessible to tourists, facilitating the movement of people to places of historical, cultural and natural significance.

Our international routes link PNG to major tourism markets in Australia, Asia and the South Pacific.

Mr Seddon said ANG plays a crucial role in bringing tourist into the country and by engaging with global tourism boards, travel agencies and international stakeholders, they actively promote PNG as top tourism destination.

“We promote local communities and cultural tourism… ANG no only connects destinations; we also connect local communities.

Tourism has the power to uplift regional areas, and create opportunities for local businesses, artisans and entrepreneurs.

Our efforts in maintaining flight operation to remote areas means that culture tourism, an essential part of PNG’s tourism offering, continues to flourish,” Mr Seddon said.

Air Niugini recently signed a unique partnership with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA); a contract worth K2.5 million over 2 years, to promote tourism in PNG and the region.