Today, Thursday, 1 November, 2007 marked a historic occasion for Papua NEw Guinea's tourism industry, when the Minister for Culture & Tourism, Honorable Mr Charles Abel MP, on behalf of the Government of Papua New Guinea, signed the landmark agreement on tourism with Mr Shao Qiwei, Chairman of the National Tourism, Administration of the People's Republic of China in Kunming, capital of the southern Chinese Province of Yunnan, where also, the 2007 China International Travel Mart is been held.

The MOU between the National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China, and the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea on the Falicitation of Group Travel by Chinese Tourist to PNG, now means that Chinese group travellers can visit PNG with the blessing of their Government.  Simply, it is a program developed by the Chinese Government to establish well-managed , orderly, and controlled system of travel abroad for a greater number of its citizens and is based on a bilateral agreement (ADS) whereby, the foreign government allows Chinese tourists to visit its country.  While very stringent entry restrictions apply under this agreement, it basically opens the way for PNG to now vigorously promote its tourim industry in the CHinese market.

In his response, Minister Abel sincerely thanked the Chinese Government for their continuing trust and commitment in enhancing the ever-burgeoning bilateral relations with PNG through this agreement, and welcomed Chinese tourists to visit PNG at their convenience by assuring them that the natural and diversified tourism wonders of PNG awaited them.  Minister Abel also extended a formal invitation to CHairman Shao to visit PNG in 2008.

WIth this signing today, PNG now joins Vanuatu, Tonga, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, besides Australia and New Zealand, to have ADS agreements with the People's Republic of China.

Minister Abel is accompanied on this trip by Mr Peter Vincent, CEO of TPA. They return back to PNG next week.