Visitors to Palau will be offered exclusive experiences based on how they treat the environment and culture, rather than how much they spend, in a world-first initiative.
Despite having fewer than 20,000 people, the Republic of Palau is making a significant contribution to environmental preservation. Not only did the country, which consists of more than 300 islands in the West Pacific, pass the world’s first anti-nuclear constitution in 1979, but it also implemented the Palau Pledge in December 2017, which requires international visitors to sign a pledge stamp in their passports promising the children of Palau that they will “tread lightly” and “preserve and protect” the islands.
As the archipelago reopens to tourism after a two-year hiatus, a new programme called Ol’au Palau is offering a world-first initiative of “gamifying” responsible tourism. Travelers will be offered exclusive experiences based on how they treat the environment and culture, rather than how much money they spend.
The programme, which will be managed through a custom app that will be released in the coming months, rewards those who treat the island nation gently and respectfully by making sustainable decisions such as using reef-safe sunscreen, visiting culturally significant sites (such as the Belau National Museum and Bai, Micronesia’s oldest), and eating sustainably sourced local food.
Guests can then use their points to gain access to cultural and nature-based experiences normally reserved for Palauans and their close friends, such as going on an unmarked hike, swimming in a secret cave, sharing a meal with locals and elders, or casting a line in a remote fishing spot. It also promises new experiences that were previously unavailable to tourists, such as a first birth ceremony, which is an important cultural event.
The Palau Pledge was conceived in 2015, when tourism had reached 150,000 visitors per year – more than seven times the country’s population – many of whom were unaware of the fragile ecosystem or the importance of sustainability to residents. While Palauan culture values hospitality and treating visitors with dignity, locals could see how inexperienced visitors were destroying their environment.
To combat this, residents Laura Clarke and Jennifer Koskelin-Gibbons co-founded the Palau Legacy Project in 2020 with Palauan Jennifer Koskelin-Gibbons to spearhead these preservation initiatives. Ol’au Palau was born from Clarke’s background in marketing and advertising and Koskelin-Gibbons’ work in national preservation efforts.
“Ol’au is an informal way for us to call out to someone we know such as a friend or family to grab their attention,” explained Koskelin-Gibbons. “We may use it to call you to join in on a barbecue, or if we’re on a beach and you are coming by on your boat, I can call out to invite you over to join in on our family fun.”
Why should I go now?
Palau’s economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism, was severely harmed by Covid lockdowns. The country opened back up in April 2022 to fully vaccinated travellers, and residents are eager to re-introduce the world to its remote white-sand beaches and wildlife-rich dive spots, which have earned it the nickname “the underwater Serengeti”. Palau, a World War II battleground, also has Japanese ship and plane wrecks that attract history buff divers. Furthermore, the country recently established the world’s first National Marine Sanctuary, prohibiting any type of extraction (including commercial fishing) in 500,000 square kilometres of ocean, making it an ideal location to see one of the 135 shark and ray species that now thrive here.
Ol’au in Palauan means to invite someone into your space
“This year has been fantastic. The corals are thriving, and the reefs are stunning “Scott Arni, the Palau Aggressor II ship’s captain, has been leading dive expeditions in Palau for ten years. “The diving at German Channel [a man-made channel within Palau’s south-west barrier reef] has been incredible, with lots of sharks and great manta ray encounters.”
Ol’au Palau rewards can be tailored to the visitor’s interests, such as diving, hiking, or interacting with the local community. Clarke recommends a 10-day to two-week trip to get the most out of the programme, especially since travel time to the remote archipelago – located 890 kilometres east of the Philippines and 1,330 kilometres south-west of Guam – can cut into your stay. “You want to start collecting your points within the first five days, and you want a good amount of time, like five or six days, to redeem them,” she advised.
Travel with no trace
Unsurprisingly, sustainability is central to many businesses in Palau, and the country’s commitment to responsible travel makes it simple to find companies that follow green practises on any budget. Furthermore, staying and dining at these establishments earns points in the Ol’au Palau programme.
Koskelin-Gibbons recommends the oceanfront Palau Royal Resort on Malakal Island for those seeking luxury. Her recommendation for budget travellers is the family-run VIP Hotel in Koror, the country’s commercial centre. Both are members of the Palau Business Pledge (a sub-program of the Palau Pledge), which means they actively work to reduce their environmental impact while also educating guests on the importance of the environment through signage and education. Eating local fish and produce is one of the simplest ways to support the economy in the long run. Demok, made from taro leaf, coconut broth, and land crab, was recently named the country’s “national soup,” and it delights both locals and visitors. “Not only is it healthy, but it’s also incredibly hearty and delicious after a long day on the water,” said Koskelin-Gibbons. “The Penthouse Hotel Restaurant’s family-run Penthouse can make it in a minute and sources the ingredients from their own family members.”
Similarly, the Malakal Island seafood restaurant Drop Off posts daily photos of the fisherman who caught your meal (look for shots of the owner, who is a sport-fisherman who brings in the Sunday catch).
Clarke recommends Sam’s Tours for exploring the island from above and below. They not only hire local guides for their kayak, hiking, and diving excursions, but they also incorporate sustainable practises into their tours (such as avoiding single-use plastics and serving locally made lunches), enforce environmental rules, and follow a zero-trace policy.
Know before you go
In addition to vaccination, visitors to Palau must now submit a negative PCR or antigen test a few days before departure and be tested again upon arrival. Palau was one of the last countries to be hit by Covid, with the first case being discovered in August 2021. It is especially important for visitors to remember that there is no “new normal” here yet, and that the small community is understandably wary of exposure.
Nearly 5,000 residents (25 percent of the population) have contracted the disease, and six have died as a result. The consequences are felt widely in such a small community.
“We are still grieving the deaths of people we know and care about. Especially in a small town, where everyone knows everyone,” Koskelin-Gibbons explained. “Please put on your mask and sanitise. It will demonstrate that you care about the community and are doing your part.”