Tourism travel into Palau has accelerated throughout 2022 with more than double arrivals compared to Year 2021.
According to the latest visitor’s arrival statistics, there were 12,328 visitors coming into Palau compared to 5, 231 in 2021, representing an increase of 136% compared to 2021
The statistics say that for the month of December 2022, visitor arrivals to Palau totaled at 1,769, representing an increase of 114% compared to December 2021 with 825 arrivals; and a decrease of 12% compared to Nov. 2022.
Taiwan leads in December arrivals representing 32%, followed by USA/ Canada with 31%, then Japan with 14%.
For the entire 2022, visitors arriving from the USA and Canada took a big slice of the pie with 6,692 arrivals. A 220 percent increase compared to 2021 arrivals. Overall 2022 markets bounced back compared to 2021, except for visitors from Taiwan which suffered a 45 percent dive in 2022.
In a recent report from Saipan where President Surangel Whipps was visiting to grace the inauguration of the CNMI government.
Whipps said the COVID hit on tourism is still affecting the country.
In December 2022, United Airlines also increased their flights to seven times a week, five flights arriving from Guam and two flights arriving from the Philippines.. China Airlines: Scheduled Flight arriving two times a week from Taiwan.
The Ministry of Health and Human Services also eased their COVID rules, due to widespread of vaccines, availability of effective therapeutics, and other tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19, unvaccinated travelers (18 years old and above) may enter Palau by completing an attestation form and/or request a waiver for the vaccination requirement due to medical reasons.