The Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation (SMEC) have joined forces to boost the development of tourism-focused micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country, while also investing in youth empowerment through targeted awareness and training programmes.
On 27 June, the two agencies signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Kokoda Trail Motel in Port Moresby. The agreement formalises a new chapter in public sector collaboration to deliver entrepreneurship training, support business formalisation, and promote compliance in tourism MSMEs.
The MOU was signed by TPA CEO Eric Mossman Uvovo and SMEC Managing Director Petrus Ralda, witnessed by Executive Manager for Research and Business Development Douglas Keari and SME Business Advisory & Capacity Building Director Diana W. Guria.
Under the agreement, TPA and SMEC will jointly roll out "Start Your Business" and "Improve Your Business" programmes, offer assistance with business registration and tax compliance, and create customised training materials tailored to the tourism sector. Training costs and logistics will be shared.
“Tourism has enormous potential to lift communities out of poverty and drive sustainable growth. This MOU allows us to reach deeper into rural and remote areas where tourism opportunities exist but lack the technical support to flourish,” said Ralda, lauding the initiative as a vital step in bridging tourism and entrepreneurship.
Speaking on behalf of TPA’s CEO, Keari said the partnership was a long-awaited boost for tourism’s grassroots.
“For too long, aspiring tourism entrepreneurs have lacked access to the training, resources and support needed to grow. This collaboration with SMEC fills that gap by ensuring our MSMEs are equipped to thrive in both local and international markets,” Keari said.
He added that the partnership aligns with TPA’s broader mission to stimulate sustainable tourism and build resilient local economies.
“Through this partnership, we are creating the foundation for a more inclusive tourism industry, one that empowers our people, protects indigenous knowledge and supports long-term economic growth,” he said.
During the ceremony, both Keari and Mr Pundu graduated as International Labour Organization (ILO) Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) trainers, marking a milestone in TPA’s internal capacity-building efforts. Since first participating in 2023, TPA has trained six staff as certified ILO trainers, enabling it to deliver business training directly to tourism SMEs nationwide.
Youth find pathways into tourism sector
In a separate but complementary initiative, more than 70 youths from Port Moresby took part in a TPA-led tourism awareness session on 9 July at Pari Village, as part of the National Capital District Commission’s (NCDC) Urban Youth Employment Project II (UYEP).
The session marked the beginning of a series of workshops aimed at introducing out-of-school and unemployed youth to careers in the tourism and hospitality sectors. Future sessions will take place at Saivara Community and PNG Defence Force Barracks, covering topics such as Basic Tourism Awareness, Customer Service Skills and Tour Guiding Techniques.
“Training like this is transformational,” said Bruce Imata, UYEP's Internship Training Coordinator. “It introduces our youth to a whole new world of possibilities in the tourism industry. Many of them have never thought about a career in tour guiding. TPA’s presence here shows that tourism isn’t just for international travellers, it’s a local opportunity, and it can change lives.”
The training featured interactive discussions, real-life insights into service delivery, and education on cultural heritage and destination promotion.
One participant, Terence Apa from Goroka, said the experience gave him a new vision for his future.
“I see now how powerful tourism can be. Back in Goroka, we have beautiful mountains, culture and coffee farms. This training has given me the vision to go back and build a small guesthouse, maybe even run cultural tours. I want other young people in my village to dream big too,” said Apa.
PNG’s youth face daunting challenges. According to government data, one in four young people—about two million—are classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). Fewer than 16 percent of boys and 12 percent of girls complete secondary school, and youth are responsible for 80 percent of crimes. Seventy-one percent of the prison population is under the age of 25.
With 60 percent of PNG’s population under 25, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), initiatives like UYEP and TPA’s awareness programme are crucial to unlocking alternative pathways.
TPA CEO Uvovo praised the young participants and partners for driving tourism awareness forward.
“This initiative is a step into a doorway for our youth to participate in the formal economy. I thank the Policy and Strategic Planning Division for spearheading this engagement and for seeing tourism not just as an economic driver, but a youth empowerment tool to inspire and build potential tourism ambassadors that will become change agents for PNG,” said Uvovo.
