Journal Staff
Tucked away in the eastern coastline of Palau is the new Palau Sunrise Landison Retreat, which opened its doors to visitors in July.
Lauded as a “hidden sanctuary” among the often-unexplored beaches of Melekeok, on the northern island of Babeldaob, the retreat was a $25 million investment with 58 rooms, 16 private villas, a Balinese spa, an outdoor pool with a view of the Pacific Ocean, and other amenities.
Documents filed with the Foreign Investment Board show the hotel to be the sole proprietorship of Chu Kan Fung Jeffrey.
The new hotel raised excitement in Palau, considering its location near the nation’s capital. Most of the other hotels are in Koror, which is the former capital but remains the business and tourism center of Palau.
Palau, with considerable support from Japan, Taiwan and other partners has put effort into restoring historic sites and creating eco-tour attractions like kayaking upriver to lush waterfalls.
The new hotel puts visitors in close driving range to such cultural and eco-tourism programs in Melekeok as well as nearby Ngchesar, Ngiwal and Ngaraard.
“Naturally these are activities guests of the hotel can enjoy. Altogether, these activities create jobs for those areas and generates economic growth and activity,” he said.
These efforts are part of a longer-term plan to built Palau as a destination for high-value tourists – those who share Palau’s views on environmental protection and are willing to pay slightly higher rates to enjoy “pristine paradise.” Bloggers, writers and international tour industry leaders have remarked on the cost of visiting paradise.
Ruluked said Palau’s tourism is experiencing a steady increase in arrivals.
Within the first five months of this year, we have surpassed tourism arrivals numbers compared to last year.” Palau and partners are promoting Palau aggressively as a “choice tourist destination,” he said.
“I feel that this year will be much better than last year’s numbers and we have a lot of great opportunities to grow next year’s tourism arrival numbers,” he said. “The hope is we reach near pre-COVID numbers, at around 80,000 tourists, this year and continue to build from there.”
In 2023, there were over 35,000 visitors, about one-third of the 89,000 visitors in 2019. In the first five months of 2024, Palau has already received more than 23,600 visitors and expects those numbers to grow. The nation is hosting an international cycling event, as well as its second Omal Marathon, and other events leading up to the 30th Independence Day celebration in October.
Ruluked said the new hotel adds to Palau’s hotel room inventory, which today totals 2,034 rooms.
In addition to the upcoming celebration and aggressive marketing in Japan, Taiwan, and other markets, PVA has enjoyed a partnership with the Four Seasons and its luxury floating resort, the Explorer. The Four Seasons Explorer has attracted a number of writers and industry leaders who’ve written extensively about Palau, which has helped put Palau on people’s radar, especially those in Europe, the U.S., Singapore, and Australia, Ruluked said.
“These articles from well-known, established, industry magazines and companies enhance the overall perception of Palau as a destination and allows us to reach a new demographic,” he said.”
For related coverage to include the Explorer, see “Leaping forward: new hotels on Palau’s Horizon,” in the April 8 issue of the Journal, and “In the Spotlight” in the September-October 2023 issue of Guam Business Magazine for a close look at the Explorer. mbj