Japan–Palau Tourism Networking Event Successfully Held with Industry Partners

On February 27, 2026, the Embassy of Japan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development (MHRCTD) and the Palau Visitors Authority (PVA), successfully hosted the Japan–Palau Tourism Networking Event at Palau Royal Resort.
 
The event brought together industry representatives from Palau’s tourism sector, including local and Japanese-owned tourism agencies, dive companies, hospitality representatives, and other tourism-related businesses. The gathering aimed to strengthen cooperation and exchange of updates on ongoing tourism initiatives between Japan and Palau. Participants had the opportunity to learn about ongoing projects and share their feedback, perspectives, and firsthand experiences regarding Palau’s evolving tourism landscape.
 
The networking event provided a platform for discussions on the latest developments and impact assessments of the following:

1. Direct flight service between Narita and Palau, highlighting the revitalization of tourism flows between Japan and Palau.
2. Bureau of Tourism’s Destination Information Management System (Belau DIMS), an online platform designed to centralize and manage tourism data, support small businesses and state governments, and strengthen a more resilient, data-driven tourism sector.
3. Palau Visitor Authority’s Alii Pass Tours Program highlighted its role in promoting sustainable, community-based tourism by expanding visitor experiences beyond the Rock Islands to local villages, culture, and history.
4. The Bureau of Development’s Public Bus Operations highlighted steady public reliance on the transit system since inception in October 2024 as a part of JICA’s technical cooperation project, while detailing planned improvements, promotions, and service expansion throughout Palau’s main islands.
5. Embassy of Japan’s Anime and Tourism presentation, exploring approaches to attract Japanese tourists to Palau through Japanese pop culture and creative marketing campaigns.

 
H.E. Ambassador KASAHARA Kenichi highlighted the vital role of the Japanese market in Palau’s tourism industry, and expressed commitment to further strengthening tourism ties between the two countries, aiming to build a sustainable and vibrant tourism industry.