Responsible Tourism Workshops for both Korea and Japan Tour Operators in Palau

Palau Conservation Society, Koror, Palau- A group of Korea and Japan tour operators in Palau participated in Responsible Tourism Workshops on November 29, and December 1 2016, respectively at The Penthouse Hotel.  The workshops conducted by the Responsible Tourism Committee, is implementing a Responsible Tourism Campaign to protect Palau’s extraordinary biodiversity for the benefit of Palauan communities and the tourism industry.  

[restrict]The goal of these workshops is to ensure that the tourism industry implement best practices to ensure that tour operators, visitors and communities’ activities do not lead to the degradation of the environment which is the basis of Palau’s tourism industry.  The objective of the campaign is to build industry awareness of the link between the rich biological diversity of Palau and its sensitivity to impacts from tourism, bridge gaps in understanding between the tourism sector, the environment sector, and the public regarding the interdependency of their interests; and articulate best practices for the tourism industry to implement in order to ensure sustainable tourism development that benefits Palau, provides a high quality visitor experience and minimize impacts on the environment.

Thanks for the representatives of the Korea group of tour operators from the Palau Adventure, Hana Tour and Palau Pacific Dive Center for their participation.  Also thanks to the Japan group of tour operators from Antelope Dive Shop, Lesson Two Palau Limited, Blue Marlin, RITC, IMPAC, Day Dream and Maml Divers for their participation as well.  Thanks to other participants from Small Grants Program and Belau Tourism Association and Bureau of Tourism.

The Responsible Tourism Committee consists of staff from the Palau Visitors Authority, Melekeok State Government, Koror State Government, Palau International Coral Reef Center, Bureau of Tourism and Palau Conservation Society. [/restrict]