Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry could benefit from faster visa processing, secure digital identity verification and more accessible online bookings and payments as the government and technology partners explore ways to reduce barriers for international visitors and local tourism operators.
These opportunities were highlighted during a digital transformation session at the PNG Tourism Summit 2026 on Wednesday, October 14. The Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) and digital payments provider NuiPay outlined how technology could improve access to tourism services, connect cultural experiences with commercial opportunities and strengthen revenue collection.
The session focused on three areas: digital identity and verification, digital platforms linking cultural experiences with e-commerce, and government initiatives to streamline trade and related processes.
Jesse Biribudo, DICT’s executive manager for digital government coordination, governance and digital public infrastructure, presented the department’s ServicePass digital identity platform.
ServicePass to simplify identity verification
Biribudo said ServicePass was designed to address the limitations of paper-based identification, including the risk of documents being lost, copied or forged and the difficulties involved in verifying their authenticity.
The platform provides digitally verifiable identity credentials issued by DICT and stored in the ServiceWallet mobile application. This allows users to present their credentials without repeatedly submitting photocopies of passports and other personal documents.
ServicePass uses cryptographic verification to establish the authenticity of credentials, while biometric checks help link an identity to the individual presenting it.
Biribudo said the platform was intended for both Papua New Guinean citizens and international visitors, distinguishing it from the National Identification (NID) system, which serves a civil registration function.
The platform could also reduce the amount of personal information people need to disclose when accessing services. For example, users could prove they meet an age requirement without sharing their full name, residential address and other details unnecessary for the transaction.
To accommodate people without smartphones, ServicePass offers an assisted registration process through which an agent can register an individual and issue a QR-coded card. The card can then be scanned alongside a biometric check to verify the holder’s identity.
ServiceWallet can also support credentials issued by participating organisations, including education qualifications, public service identification and other service-related documents, Biribudo said.
For the tourism and travel industry, potential applications include hotel check-ins, banking services, membership cards and digital boarding passes for domestic travel.
DICT has also trialled account opening with MiBank through ServicePass, with the process taking only a few minutes, according to Biribudo.
Beyond tourism, the department sees potential applications in public administration and fraud prevention. Linking verified identities to public service payroll records could help identify duplicate records and support payroll verification. Similar principles could be applied to electoral identification to help address multiple voting.
DICT is also considering links between biometric identity verification and SIM card registration to reduce fraudulent SIM activations that could expose users to financial fraud.
Biribudo said ServiceWallet was available through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Connecting digital identity with payments
The presentations also highlighted the importance of linking digital identity verification with payment systems and other government services to create a more integrated digital ecosystem.
Secure digital identification can help establish who is accessing a service, while digital payment infrastructure enables transactions and transfers revenue to the businesses providing tourism products and experiences.
For tourism operators, these capabilities could reduce administrative burdens, simplify transactions and create opportunities to reach visitors before they arrive in the country. Easier online bookings and payments could also help local businesses connect with international customers seeking accommodation, tours and cultural experiences.
The session also underscored the practical challenges of digital transformation, including internet connectivity, system integration and the cost of adopting new services. Addressing these constraints will be important to ensuring that investments in digital infrastructure translate into tangible benefits for businesses, government agencies and visitors.
By improving identity verification and connecting digital services, the initiatives presented at the summit could help PNG make tourism services more accessible while creating greater opportunities for local operators to benefit from visitor spending.
