We just want rich tourists! Pacific island nation of Palau to pass law that only allows new five-star hotels 

  • Palau president Tommy Remengesau plans to allow only five-star hotels to open 
  • The new scheme is part of a 'quality rather than quantity' tourism strategy 
  • It is hoped the plan would reduce visitor numbers and attract richer tourists 

By Caroline Mcguire for MailOnline

Published: 08:11 EST, 16 January 2017 | Updated: 08:52 EST, 16 January 2017

If you've ever fancied a trip to dreamy Palau, you might want to book that plane ticket pretty sharpish. 

The Pacific island nation is hoping to pass a new law that will encourage only affluent tourists to holiday there.

Palau president Tommy Remengesau has spoken about his plan to allow only five-star hotels to open in the exotic archipelago as part of a 'quality rather than quantity' tourism strategy. 

Palau president Tommy Remengesau plans to allow only five-star hotels to open as part of a 'quality over quantity' tourism strategy 

It is hoped that the new restrictions would reduce visitor numbers and attract a different type of tourist with deeper pockets. 

The new hotels would have to be built within strict guidelines, but in return the government would provide tax breaks for the businesses.  

President Remengesau said: 'Our definition of high-end [tourism] would be that they would also come in with their own designed water treatment system, power back-ups. 

'If there are any other infrastructures that they have to do, like opening a road, the investor would do that themselves.' 

It is hoped that the new restrictions would reduce visitor numbers and attract a different type of tourist with deeper pockets 

He continued: 'In return for that we will give them the necessary tax break and exemptions for them.' 

According to reports, the legislations came about as a result of increased tourism from mainland China over recent years. 

Package tours from the country saw large numbers of Chinese visitors, which the government claims has had a negative effect on the environment and they have since halved the number of flights to Palau from China. 

According to reports, the legislations came about as a result of increased package tourism from mainland China over recent years 

President Remengesau said: 'While the numbers went down, the actual tourist spending went up. 

'It confirms our direction [to attract] less tourists who spend more which equates to more tax dollars . 

'We [will] go for quality rather than quantity... to create a goal of high-end, high-value tourism.'

Comments 20

Share what you think

  View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

  View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.