Palau Visitors Authority
“WE ARE COMMITTED to promote our heritage and the unique attractions of Palau through sustainable tourism development and the encouragement of responsible practices.”
This is the mission statement of the Palau Visitors Authority. Charged with promoting tourism in the country, the organisation is headed up by Managing Director Stephanie Nakamura, who set aside some time to answer a few questions about the nation’s offering for travellers.
Asia Outlook (AsO): Can you firstly talk us through the origins of the Palau Visitors Authority, how it came about, and its initial vision?
Stephanie Nakamura (SN): Palau’s first tourist office was established in 1972 under the Economic Development Office of the Trust Territory Government, and it was known as the Palau Tourism Commission. The Tourism Re-Organization Act of 1982 under Palau Public Law 1-49 ended the Tourism Commission and established the Palau Visitors Authority (PVA).
PVA is a semi-autonomous body created by law to promote and encourage the development and marketing of tourism as one of the primary economic sectors of the Republic. PVA is composed of seven members of the board, appointed by the President, with consent of the Senate.
Its primary responsibility is to develop policies and guidelines as a basis for PVA’s operational and marketing direction; it directs policies and work activities of the Authority through the Managing Director, who in turn directs the day to day activities of the organisation.
The Board has another key responsibility in that it recommends to the President and the Congress passages of legislation pertaining to tourism. The PVA acts as a liaison between the tourism industry and the community, particularly the states, in accessing and encouraging the establishment of potential tourist sites and suitable activities for the purpose of spreading tourist traffic throughout Palau.
PVA is responsible for generating awareness about tourism to all segments of the community in Palau to ensure that the Palauan people understand what tourism is about, what it does, and how it effects our island nation.
AsO: Since inception, how has the Palau Visitors Authority developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?
SN: To this day, Palau Visitors Authority continues to promote our heritage and the unique attractions of Palau through sustainable tourism development and the encouragement of responsible practices.
The first product of the Alii Pass programme offers uniqueness and is one of the few cultural experiences tourists can find on islands. PVA believes this Airai State cultural tour and all other future tours that will be part of the Alii Pass programme deserve to be highlighted.
AsO: How would you say Palau has developed in recent years as a business travel hub? Why, in your opinion, should someone visit Palau?
SN: Palau has become home to more and more well-developed hotels and resorts over the years, as well as health and education infrastructures. Palau is known for its pristine seas and nature, which are preserved by our culture. We are also known as the ideal family friendly, world-class destination.
AsO: Are there any specific attractions, landmarks or places to eat and drink that you would recommend?
SN: We are renowned for nature, which is preserved or has been created by our culture and recent past – key attractions include birdwatching, caves, dolphin experiences, sharks, shipwrecks, waterfalls, WWII monuments and more.
This year we won a PATA Gold
Award (for community-based tourism) for the Airai State Cultural Tour, a rich and eco-friendly guided tour, an experience like no other on the island where culture, history, traditional performances and Palauan delicacies are wedded into a one-day experience.