Papua New Guinea has made its debut appearance at the prestigious Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo Autumn 2026, with a delegation led by Air Niugini and the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) showcasing the country’s diverse tourism offerings to one of Asia’s most important outbound travel markets.
The three-day expo, which commenced on 25 September, was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Since its launch two years ago, the event has grown steadily in popularity, attracting more than 250,000 visitors and establishing itself as one of the region’s leading travel exhibitions.
This year’s expo brought together 270 exhibitors from across the global tourism industry, providing a dynamic platform for destinations, airlines, hotels and tourism operators to connect with travellers from Hong Kong and beyond.
Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Milne, said the airline was pleased to partner with TPA and industry stakeholders in promoting Papua New Guinea to a key Asian market.
“Papua New Guinea remains one of the world’s truly authentic travel destinations, offering visitors experiences that cannot be found anywhere else. From spectacular diving and fishing adventures to unique cultural festivals, pristine rainforests, volcanoes, islands and wildlife, PNG offers remarkable experiences for every traveller.
“Air Niugini is proud to support initiatives such as the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo because tourism plays a vital role in creating economic opportunities, supporting local communities and showcasing our country to the world. Our participation is about building awareness, strengthening partnerships and encouraging more visitors to discover Papua New Guinea.”
“Air Niugini’s direct Hong Kong services also provide a valuable link for travellers seeking to visit Papua New Guinea and the wider region. With four direct flights each week between Port Moresby and Hong Kong, operating every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, Air Niugini offers convenient connectivity not only between the two destinations but also onward access to Australia and Pacific destinations, including Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji. This connectivity supports tourism, business travel, trade and people-to-people links across the region.”
Air Niugini Regional Manager Asia, Mr Joshua Koh, who is leading the PNG delegation at the expo, said the response from visitors has been extremely encouraging.
“This is the first time Papua New Guinea has participated in the Hong Kong Holiday & Travel Expo, giving us an excellent opportunity to introduce our country directly to thousands of potential travellers from Hong Kong and across the region.
“We are seeing strong interest from visitors, with thousands passing through our booth eager to learn more about Papua New Guinea’s unique culture, natural beauty and adventure tourism experiences. Through this platform, we are not only promoting travel to PNG but also building relationships that can drive future tourism growth and business opportunities.”
Joining Air Niugini and TPA at the Papua New Guinea stand were tourism industry partners including Coral Sea Hotels, Dynasty Seafood Restaurant Vision City, Alibi Bar & Grill, Asia Aromas, Daikoku Japanese Restaurant, Cuppa Cafe, Kokopo Beach Bungalow Resort and Karanas Comfort Tours, all working together to promote the country as a must-visit destination.
Adding a vibrant cultural aspect to the show were traditional dancers from Rigo District in Central Province, participating as cultural ambassadors. Their traditional costumes and kundu drumming attracted significant attention from visitors and provided an authentic taste of Papua New Guinea’s rich cultural heritage.
Throughout the event, PNG participants engaged directly with visitors, highlighting the country’s many tourism experiences, including exotic diving, snorkeling , bird watching, trekking, cultural festivals, island escapes, eco-tourism adventures and unique encounters with traditional communities.
Visitors also learned about Papua New Guinea’s extraordinary diversity, including more than 800 languages, hundreds of tribes and cultures, spectacular flora and fauna, and some of the most untouched natural environments on the planet.
The PNG booth became a focal point for interactive activities, attracting a steady stream of visitors eager to learn more about the country. Guests enjoyed taking photos with the cultural ambassadors and participating in a highly engaging “Spin the Wheel” competition, which quickly became one of the expo’s most popular attractions.
The interactive game offered visitors the chance to win exciting prizes, including travel credits, promotional merchandise and premium organic Papua New Guinea coffee. The coffee, sourced from PNG’s renowned coffee-growing regions, was also prominently promoted at the booth, providing visitors with an opportunity to discover another unique Papua New Guinean product.
For Papua New Guinea’s tourism industry, participation in the expo is expected to increase destination awareness, strengthen business-to-consumer and business-to-business relationships, and create opportunities to attract more visitors from Hong Kong, Greater China and the wider Asian region.
The PNG delegation’s success at similar tourism expos in Singapore, Manila and other Asian markets over the past three years has generated growing interest from tourism organisations in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, which have expressed interest in welcoming the Papua New Guinea team to participate in future travel exhibitions.
Air Niugini continues to actively support destination marketing initiatives throughout its international network as part of its commitment to promoting Papua New Guinea, supporting tourism growth and helping drive visitor arrivals into the country.
