KOROR (Palau Horizon) — Tourist arrivals for the month of March declined by 8 percent compared to the same month in 2001, according to the Palau Visitors Authority.
There has been a decrease in visitors from Palau’s two most viable tourism markets—Japan and Taiwan.
In March, tourist arrivals were pegged at 5,453 compared to 5,917 visitors in March 2001.
The number of tourists from Japan dropped to 12 percent with only 2,853 registered visitors, while the number of tourists from Taiwan recorded an 18 percent decrease with 695 visitors.
Visitors from Australia and New Zealand also declined by 60 percent.
However, the numbers for the Europe, Guam, Hong Kong and CNMI markets increased during March.
The European figures are up by 32 percent; the CNMI, 140 percent; Guam, 80 percent; and Hong Kong, 68 percent.
Tourist arrivals for the first quarter of 2002 decreased by 4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2001.
Tourist arrivals in February increased by 15 percent.
