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We always talk about how tourism is such a powerful industry and that’s certainly true. But sometimes this leads us to forget that tourism is also extremely vulnerable to threats such as natural disasters and disease outbreaks.
Travelers are becoming more socially and environmentally conscious than ever, seeking to get away safe in the knowledge they’ve had minimal impact on the planet’s resources.
Located in the Micronesia region in the western Pacific, Palau has become the world’s first carbon neutral destination. It is also regarded as one of the top marine tourism destinations in the world with its outstanding natural beauty and pristine seas.
A hidden island paradise, Palau is a remarkable country of surreal landscapes, pristine seas, and a long cultural history involving occupations by several foreign powers including Spain, Germany, Japan and the United States.
The archipelago is made up of more than 340 lush green islands, only nine are currently inhabited. The azure waters around the islands teem with an abundance of marine life, including over 500 species of coral and 1,300 types of fish.
In order to offset carbon footprint of Palau’s tourism, a project has begun that promotes local food production. It will also develop a first-of-its-kind online platform which will allow visitors to Palau to calculate and offset the entire carbon footprint of their trip.
Visitors are required to sign an environmental pledge upon arrival, which ask them to act in an “ecologically and culturally responsible way”.
As such, the programme will be integrated throughout the visitor experience. Tourists will be made aware of the initiative from the moment they arrive at the airport and will continue to learn more about it during their stay. Finally, they will be provided with the option to offset at the end of their trip.
