KOROR, Palau — A total of 111 tour operators, including both land and marine businesses, attended the first-ever Tour Operators Meeting organized by the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism & Development (HRCTD) on Thursday at the Civic Center in Koror.
The meeting provided a platform for tour operators to review existing Tour Operator Regulations and voice concerns about specific provisions. The regulations cover both land and marine operations. Following are some of the examples of regulations covered.
- Section 108(b): Tour guides must wear identifiable gear or clothing.
- Section 109(c): Cancellation policies must be clearly communicated at the time of booking.
- Section 109(d): Promotional materials must not be misleading and must accurately reflect services provided.
- Section 111(a)(1): A dive guide-to-customer ratio of 1:6 must be maintained for diving activities.
- Sec. 115(a): Mandatory community involvement for tour operators, documented annually.
- Sec. 116 (a): Minimum automobile insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage.
- Sec. 117 (b): Prohibition of reckless driving by tour operators’ drivers and boat operators/
HRCTD officials facilitated discussions on regulatory compliance and industry concerns. Attendees also participated in an online survey to assess their understanding of the regulations. The survey results were not yet available as of press time.
The meeting aimed to improve collaboration between regulators and operators while ensuring sustainable tourism practices in Palau’s growing industry. (By: L.N. Reklai)