Overview:
Palau recorded 7,565 visitor arrivals in August 2026, up 25% from the same month last year and 602 arrivals above July. Growth from Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Europe and other regional markets helped lift total arrivals despite softer results from China and USA/Canada. With 58,605 arrivals recorded from January through August, Palau remains on pace for a strong 2026 tourism performance.
By: L.N. Reklai
Palau recorded 7,565 visitor arrivals in August, a 25% increase from the same month last year, as stronger performance in Japan, Taiwan, Australia and several other markets offset declines from China and North America. Based on the January-August pace, Palau is on track to finish 2026 with roughly 88,000 visitor arrivals, about 26% above the comparable 2025 trend.
KOROR, Palau — Visitor arrivals to Palau rose to 7,565 in August, up 1,504 visitors, or 25%, from 6,061 in August 2025, according to the Palau Visitors Authority’s latest monthly arrival report.
August arrivals also increased by 602 visitors from July’s 6,963 arrivals, marking the strongest monthly result of the second half of 2026 after a midyear low of 5,925 arrivals in June.
China remained Palau’s largest visitor market in August with 2,398 arrivals, followed by Taiwan with 1,459 visitors and Japan with 1,258. Other markets accounted for 844 arrivals, while USA/Canada contributed 843 visitors, Europe 395, Australia 300 and South Korea 68.
The month’s overall increase was driven by gains from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Europe, Australia and the “Others” category. Japan posted the largest month-to-month gain, adding 487 visitors from July, while the Others category increased by 535 visitors. China and USA/Canada arrivals declined from July but did not prevent an overall rise in visitation.
Compared with August last year, growth was particularly strong in Japan, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and other regional markets. China arrivals were slightly below the August 2025 level, while USA/Canada also recorded a year-over-year decline.
For the first eight months of 2026, Palau welcomed 58,605 visitors, compared with 46,400 during January-August 2025 — a gain of 12,205 arrivals, or 26%.
China remained the largest market year to date with 20,792 arrivals, while Taiwan contributed 9,983 visitors. Japan recorded the strongest percentage growth among major markets, rising 83% from the same period in 2025. Australia grew 68%, South Korea 56%, China 38%, Europe 16%, Others 7%, Taiwan 4% and USA/Canada 1%.
If the January-August monthly average of about 7,326 visitors continues through the final four months of the year, Palau would end 2026 with approximately 87,900 arrivals. That would represent an increase of about 18,000 visitors, or roughly 26%, over a projected 2025 total based on the same January-August comparison.
The outlook could be strengthened by expanded air access from Australia. Qantas is expected to add flights per week from December 2026 through March 2027 under the Australian Government-supported direct Brisbane-Koror service, providing additional capacity during the peak year-end and early 2027 travel period.