Tourism Minister Belden Namah has urged university students, academics and tourism stakeholders to harness information technology and artificial intelligence to connect Papua New Guinea’s natural and cultural assets with the global tourism market.
Namah is also the Vanimo-Green MP.
Minister Namah made the call last week at the 20th Tourism Convention hosted by UPNG’s the School of Business and Public Policy.
Related news: https://www.postcourier.com.pg/minister-namah-challenges-students/
The convention brought together tourism and hospitality students, academic staff, tourism operators and government representatives under the theme, “Digital Agendas and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism in Papua New Guinea.”
“Artificial intelligence is particularly significant because it changes not only how people communicate but how business decisions are made,” Mr. Namah said.
“AI can analyze large quantities of information and identify travel patterns, customer preferences, demand trends and emerging markets while also assisting others in managing business.”
Minister Namah described PNG’s traditional and cultural diversity, biodiversity, languages and stories as valuable national assets.
“The challenge before all is to connect these assets with the global tourism marketplace. This is where the digital agenda becomes more important,” he said.
The Minister stressed that students must incorporate the knowledge and skills they acquire in information technology and artificial intelligence into practical tourism marketing strategies to achieve global reach.
He described IT and AI as significant opportunities for sustainable tourism, provided they are used responsibly.
He also encouraged students to create their own opportunities within the tourism sector rather than wait for formal employment.
“The tourism industry is an industry of opportunities. You don’t need to graduate and go for a job. Create industry for yourself so you can meaningfully participate in the development of our country.
“We have that which is waiting for us in the world, and we should promote our own beauty, our own natural resources, the flowers and flora of our community.”
Industry participants at the convention said universities, government and the private sector must collaborate more closely to translate the digital agenda into measurable growth for the tourism sector.