Palau tourism prospects getting brighter

Palau’s tourism numbers are rising, with the prospect this year of the results of additional flights to the country and a major sports tourism event mid-year.

In November, Palau experienced a significant increase in tourism, recording a total of 4,651 visitors. This figure represents a 7% increase from the previous month, and a 21% increase compared to the same month in the previous year.

The Natural Arch is a well-known formation in the rock islands in Palau. Photo by Oyaol Ngirairikl

China continued to be the leading source of arrivals, contributing 25% to the total visitor count, with Taiwan accounting for 23% of visitors. The combined arrivals from the USA and Canada represented 17%, indicating a stable interest from North American travelers, the Palau Visitors Authority said in a Jan. 2 release.

In November 2019, Palau received 7,983 visitors.

See https://www.mbjguam.com/airlines-news-update for additional flights information.

Palau will host the Pacific Mini Games from June 30 to July 9, offering additional numbers from the sport tourism market, and direct spending by those visitors.

The Northern Mariana Islands welcomed more than 1,200 visitors to the 2022 Mini Games.

In other tourism-related news, eight Chinese divers and their guide were rescued Dec. 27 after drifting for more than 24 hours following a dive at Peleliu Corner, where currents are strong.

A search and rescue operation involving the Koror and Peleliu state rangers, Palau’s Division of Marine Law Enforcement, and private boat operators was launched – but first headed in the wrong direction. The divers were located about 30 miles to the northwest of Pelelieu by Jerome Sakurai, a Palauan private boat operator.

The U.S. Coast Guard assisted in predicting where the group might be, through drift modeling. mbj

Palau moves into implementation phase on long-awaited hospital relocation

KOROR, Palau — More than three decades after it was built, Palau’s only hospital is firmly on a path toward replacement. President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. convened the first meeting of the Belau National Hospital Relocation Steering Committee on May 14, marking the start of what officials are calling the implementation phase of a project that many say is long overdue.