Beijing - Port Moresby direct flights to boost Tourism in PNG

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill inspects guard of honor by Chinese army.
Photo credit: Peoples Daily China

China and Papua New Guinea have signed agreements over the weekend to establish direct flights to Beijing which would pave the way for the tourism sector.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had also made it clear to President Xi Jinping and the Government of China that PNG will continue to encourage Chinese companies to invest here.

Mr Xi wants to encourage more tourists from China to come and visit PNG.

To do that, he said that China would work with the PNG’s tourism sector.

Mr O’Neill said one of the positive points from the discussion with Mr Xi is his support for more Chinese tourists to visit PNG.

"In Beijing, both countries signed an air services agreement that will pave the way for us to soon initiate direct flights between our countries.

"As part of this, President Xi said he wants to encourage more tourists from China to visit our country to see the amazing landscape and people of PNG.

"President Xi said his Government will promote Papua New Guinea as a tourist destination and this is a sound endorsement, O’Neill said.

"There were more than 100 million outbound visits from China last year, and to capture even a slight fraction of that market would be a great boost to our tourism industry, PM said.

"Soon PNG will issue tourist visas on arrival for all Chinese citizens and this will make visits even easier.

"Talks will be ongoing in relation to technical issues that make PNG an even more attractive destination for Chinese travellers." Post Courier / PNG Today