Overview:
Palau’s new Sustainable Tourism Strategy puts local businesses at the center — and the Belau Destination Information Management System (Belau DIMS) is the tool to make it happen. From tracking projects to sharing resources, DIMS will help entrepreneurs and government partners grow tourism responsibly. 🌴✨ #SustainableTourism #BelauDIMS
KOROR, Palau — Palau has launched its Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2025–2028, a national plan designed to responsibly grow tourism while preserving the country’s culture and environment. Central to the plan is the Belau Destination Information Management System (Belau DIMS), a digital platform designed to enhance the management of tourism by government, businesses, and communities.
DIMS enables authorities and entrepreneurs to register tourism-related data, track projects, share information, and access key resources, enhancing transparency and coordination. Elangel Yanni Mesubed, Director of the Bureau of Tourism, said, “This has been in the planning stages since 2024, and today marks the day it finally launches.”
The strategy is guided by seven principles, including sustainability, cultural preservation, inclusivity, and collaborative development. It sets five measurable goals for 2028: to attract visitors at a sustainable pace, grow high-spend, low-impact tourism, increase tourism’s economic contribution, support Palauan-owned businesses, and expand local employment in the tourism sector.
“It was the collective effort with partners that allowed this roadmap to come to fruition,” noted Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, of the broad collaboration behind the roadmap.
For local businesses, the strategy and DIMS platform provide opportunities to innovate in eco-friendly services, cultural experiences, and digital solutions. Eustoria Marie Borja, Director of SBDC, emphasized, “Small businesses will play a central role in shaping this future, and SBDC is ready to provide counseling, training, and resources to help Palauans seize these opportunities.”
The launch highlighted projects in eco-friendly transportation and renewable energy, demonstrating how DIMS will support data-driven decision-making for sustainable tourism growth.