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Palau officially launched its Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2025–2028 (STS) on Monday 29 September 2025. The strategy provides a 4 year roadmap to ensure tourism delivers stronger benefits for Palauans while protecting the nation’s environment and culture.

The STS was developed by the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development (MHRCTD), with the support of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).

Through a strategic framework of guiding principles, goals, objectives, priorities, and activities, the strategy establishes a clear national direction for building a tourism sector that protects Palau’s unique environment, strengthens communities, and delivers long-term economic value.

In his remarks at the launch, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, Mr Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, said “the strategy ensures that tourism continues to support the economy while protecting our culture, our national environment, and well-being.”

“It was the collective effort with partners that allowed this roadmap to come to fruition. The strategy focuses on bringing all the different partners together to achieve a home grown initiative. We are excited to begin the job.”

Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, Mr Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, speaking at the launch.

The strategy emphasizes a whole-of-country destination management partnership model, the Belau Destination Management Partnership, as one of its key pillars. It was developed through consultations with national and state governments, the private sector, NGOs, and more than 600 community members via the 2024 Tourism Sentiment Survey. It will be monitored annually to ensure accountability and adaptability.

Director of the Palau Bureau of Tourism, Elangel Yanni Mesubed also emphasized the robust consultation process and stressed that now was the time for action as the strategy is implemented. “Let’s get our hands dirty,” said Mr Mesubed.

The STS will be implemented by the Bureau of Tourism and the Palau Visitors Authority, in partnership with state governments, communities, the private sector, and NGOs.

Find the strategy online here: https://ministryofhrctd.pw/project-initiatives/palau-sustainable-tourism-strategy-2025-2028/

Director of the Palau Bureau of Tourism, Elangel Yanni Mesubed, speaking at the launch.

Director of the Palau Visitors Authority, Mr Kadoi Ruluked, speaking at the launch.