Ms Nancy Morea believes tourism will soon become a major contributor to Papua New Guinea’s economic growth. And she is keen to be a part of it.

Following several years working for hotels in Port Moresby, Nancy recently decided to formalize her experience by applying to study tourism with the Australian-government supported Australia-Pacific Technical College.

“I applied for a Certificate III in Tourism because I wanted to further my career. I really love working with tourists and serving customers,” Nancy says.

Nancy will undertake the six-month course at APTC’s Port Villa campus in Vanuatu, which specializes in tourism studies.

“I am very excited about studying and living in Vanuatu. It will be a new experience being away from home for so long. My family has already had a small farewell party. There were quite a few tears, but they made me more determined to study hard and finish my course as soon as possible.”

Nancy says the tourism industry is important for Papua New Guinea’s future and believes with the right investment in human resources the country will one day become a popular tourist destination.

“Papua New Guinea’s tourism will improve over the next five to ten years. People will get better at understanding how to cater for tourists’ needs. They will develop a greater respect for tourists and get a better understanding of how tourism is important in providing jobs and income for local communities,” Nancy says.

Nancy is a strong believer in the role colleges like APTC can play in improving not just tourism in PNG, but across a broad range of industries and business sectors.

“Training is important for Papua New Guinea because the country still has a long way to go with its economy. Australia is helping people study different courses at APTC and this will help provide the skills and knowledge the country needs for businesses and to create jobs,” Nancy says.

“I am looking forward to returning to my country with new ideas about working in the tourism industry. When I get back I hope I can get a job in customer relations with an airline company. I’d like to do that for a couple of years and then think about studying for a bachelor’s degree.”