Handicrafts Video, Vendor Guide To Boost Sales Of PNG Handicrafts

Tourism and Investment, Keith Pitt and PNG’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and … into Australia and New Zealand, as the key markets for Pacific tourism.
 
A handicrafts biosecurity awareness video and a handicrafts vendor guide was launched recently by Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tamur and  Australia’s Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Keith Pitt, MP.
The materials, which include a bio-security video on handicrafts and a handicrafts vendor guide, are designed to help educate the vendors, artisans and tourists in meeting bio-security protocols involved in the production, purchasing and handling of handicrafts.
 
“The Government of Papua New Guinea is pleased to be working in partnership with the Australian Government to ensure that our people benefit from the investment made in the tourism sector. As you know, more than 80 per cent of the population is rural-based and dependent on sectors such as tourism and agriculture for their livelihood,” Minister Tamur said.
Informed vendors and artisans will see better returns from handicraft exports and stakeholders will be able to minimise the risks of exported handicrafts being rejected at quarantine borders through appropriate inspection and treatment.
“Supporting tourism and rural development in Papua New Guinea to enable economic growth, including empowerment of women is a key focus of the Papua New Guinea-Australia partnership,” Assistant Minister Pitt stated at the launch.

A handicrafts biosecurity awareness video and a vendor guide will be launched today by Australia’s Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Keith Pitt and PNG’s Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Emil Tammur.

The awareness materials have been developed by the Australia and New Zealand-funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) program in consultation with bio-security authorities in Australia and New Zealand in collaboration with the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority, Tourism Promotion Authority, artisans and vendors from the private sector.

The sale of handicrafts is a vita source of income for many families in PNG. However, a limiting factor to the growth of this industry is the cautious buying behaviour by tourists who are uncertain of the quarantine status and overseas bio-security requirements of certain handicrafts from the Pacific Islands.

The video, which will be made available on cruise ships, offers information to tourists on what can and cannot be brought into Australia and New Zealand, as the key markets for Pacific tourism.

(Source: Papua New Guinea Post Courier September 2017)