Statistical record of the number of people who visited Palau in 2007 exceeds the number recorded in 2008 by approximately 10,000.
The decline in the number of visitors to Palau is attributed to the worldwide increase of the price of fuel, which significantly affected not only travel but also other sectors of world economies.The rise of fuel cost in Palau in 2008 contributed changes in the economy, which had led to significant increases of rates of services offered to visitors. Further, the higher cost of fuel contributed to closures of services that previously catered to visitors – operating costs skyrocketed in 2008.The statistics clearly shows that many of the visitors – more than 50 percent – to Palau in both years are from the Orient. It is speculated that when the price of fuel began rising, visitors trend – particularly tourists – evolved as well.According to tour operators, package deals were offered to tourists and they would travel as groups; thus, essentially limiting the number of people for each package. “Many of the tourists who visited Palau in the past stopped coming,” said one tour guide. “The cost of travel and services had gone up and only the “well-to-do” could afford to visit.”Moreover, those who could afford to visit came in groups and tended to utilize well-established tour agencies. The trend directly affected small tour businesses and has nearly driven most them out of business.Except for the first three months of 2007, the number of visitors to Palau on a monthly basis was significantly lower in 2008 – by as much as more than a 1000 difference.The cost of fuel has fallen. It is expected that the number of visitors to Palau will begin to increase as world economies begin to recover.The statistics show that 88,175 people visited Palau in 2007 and in 2008, the number decreased to 79,259. In addition, the records show that visitors to Palau from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea continue to register the greatest number of visits in all of the months of 2007 and 2008.
