Latest news with #Micronesian
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
This beautiful island nation opens doors to Indian travellers with 30-day visa-free entry
Indian travellers will now have the option for visa-free travel to another beautiful island nation. As per the reports, in a significant move to enhance tourism and strengthen diplomatic ties, the Republic of Palau has announced a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian citizens. This development positions Palau as an emerging destination for Indian travelers seeking unique, nature-rich experiences. This announcement comes days after the Philippines announced visa-free travel for Indian travellers. Palau is a Micronesian island nation set in the western Pacific Ocean, which is renowned for its breathtaking marine biodiversity, crystal-clear waters, and lush tropical landscapes. With ample tourist hotpots like World War II relics both on land and underwater, it's a haven for history enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. With the latest move, it's anticipated that it will significantly boost Indian visitor traffic to this eco-tourism hotspot. Read more: $1000 to skip the US Visa queue? Donald Trump administration proposes new plan; find out here As regarding the visa-free policy, it will allow Indian tourists to enjoy a stay in Palau for up to 30 days, and that too without the need for prior visa arrangements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Reports add that this initiative is part of Palau's broader strategy to promote sustainable tourism and foster closer ties with India. It's likely that this move will enhance people-to-people connections and cultural exchanges between the two nations. Accessing Palau from India involves connecting flights through major Asian hubs such as Manila, Taipei, and Seoul. With the possibility of future direct routes, including a proposed Air India service to the Philippines, Indian travelers may find it increasingly convenient to reach this Pacific paradise. Palau's decision to offer visa-free entry to Indian citizens comes in the wake of similar initiatives by other countries in the region, such as the Philippines. These developments reflect a growing recognition of India's outbound tourism potential and the desire of nations to attract Indian travelers. Read more: 10 oldest cities in India and their rich heritage For Indian passport holders, this latest addition will bring the total number of countries offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 58. This expansion of travel freedoms will indeed enhance global mobility of Indian citizens and strengthen India's international relationships. Palau's introduction of a 30-day visa-free entry for Indian tourists marks a significant step in enhancing bilateral relations and promoting tourism. Indian travelers now have the opportunity to explore Palau's unique offerings, from its rich marine life to its historical sites, without the hurdle of visa procedures. This development will benefits tourists, as well as contribute to the cultural and economic enrichment of both nations. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
The Age
24-05-2025
- The Age
The stunning Pacific island nation just waiting to be discovered
It's Sunday morning and I'm standing in a taro patch. In front of us, Dirradai Uai Skebong bends and hacks at a sea of lurid green stalks with a machete, her dog sniffing idly at our feet. Eventually she reaches down and, with an audible heave, pulls an enormous taro root from the mud. This is the Airai Cultural Tour, our first stop on our first morning in Palau. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful introduction to the tiny Micronesian island nation. The air is thick with a tropical dewiness, dialling up the saturated colour of the surrounding hilly jungle, and brightly detailed Palauan houses with their blend of traditional and contemporary styling. Skebong holds up the root for us to inspect. It glistens with mud. Suddenly, there's a thunderous roar. Behind Skebong, framed by the trees at the end of her plot, a Qantas 737 surges into the sky, seemingly close enough to touch. Instinctively, we wave. The plane last night delivered us from Brisbane, and is off on its return leg. It will be a week before the little Boeing returns. In December Qantas took over this route, dubbed the Palau Paradise Express, from Nauru Airlines. The Palau Paradise Express is just one small part of a comprehensive investment package in the Pacific by the Australian government via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Qantas will tell you it saw an immediate surge in searches for Palau after it announced it was taking over the service. That's translating into bums on seats – hence why I'm here with a bunch of other journalists. 'We're a known brand in Australia and I think we naturally resonate with Australians,' said Kathryn Robertson, when asked what landed the national carrier the contract for the route. Robertson is Qantas' executive general manager of sales and distribution, and was at Brisbane Airport the day before as part of the service's official launch. Loading 'The strength of our network and our frequent flyer offering are all factors that would help generate that demand for customers to want to go [to Palau] with Qantas.' Also at the airport (and on our flight) was Palau's president, Surangel Samuel Whipps jnr. The American-born Whipps is an easy mix of political charm and Pacific island insouciance. He, of course, wants Australians to flock to Palau and spruiks it effortlessly. 'We want more tourists from North America, Europe and Australia,' Whipps jnr said. 'I mentioned in the press conference just now a study that Cornell [University] did, which evaluated that Australians are the best target market for Palau because they're high spending, they care about the environment and they're adventurers. 'They love nature and that's what Palau has to offer.' He's not wrong. Our itinerary for the first few days immerses us in some of the most jaw-dropping scenery I've experienced in 11 years of travel journalism. Palau is a nation of about 340 islands scattered across 466 square kilometres, and there's little doubt it's best experienced on the water. On our second morning we venture out with Neco Marine on a shaded dive boat to explore the surrounding marine sanctuary. First stop? The Milky Way, we're told. But this one's in the water. The dive boat surges along before veering towards a maze of islands that sprout, mushroom-like, from the sea. The boat leans this way and that – left-right-left – densely forested limestone cliffs whizzing by, almost close enough to touch, before powering down and floating serenely into a narrow, secluded lagoon. I stand and remove my sunglasses. The water around us pops with a rich turquoise that almost glows in the gentle morning light. I've never seen anything like it. This shallow retreat with its rich limestone mud seafloor is considered by locals a natural spa. We dive in. The water (and creamy sludge beneath) carries a whiff of sulfur, and the sea lice are soon attacking my armpits. But enveloped in its gentle warmth, I hardly care. For the rest of the day we hop around the water park to different snorkelling spots. I haven't made time for a dive on this trip – a decision I regret as I slip under the waves and into an entirely different world. We float with the current over reefs stacked in a kaleidoscope of coral, schools of triggerfish, parrotfish and convict surgeonfish, the occasional curious reef shark eyeballing us from a distance. For 10 minutes I tail a hawksbill turtle as it dives and surfaces, moseying around for food. It's special stuff. Not so great is a trip to Jellyfish Lake, a marine lake on Eil Malk Island. A swim among its thousands of harmless jellyfish is a Palau calling card – and is presented as a highlight on our Palau Visitor Authority itinerary – but as we approach the island's pontoon our guides become reticent, and then reluctant for us to get off the dive boat. The jellyfish are gone, they eventually concede, victims of a reef bleaching incident in 2017. We stand, silent and confused, before deciding to tackle the short hike to the lake anyway. Turns out, the guides are right – the luminous golden jellyfish from the brochures are nowhere to be seen. All we find is the occasional moon jellyfish (also harmless). It's a bust, although the jellyfish populations are expected to rebound in the coming years. It's not the only clumsy moment. Palau is still getting used to welcoming visitors, it seems, and a couple of otherwise professionally run tours maybe go on for too long, or suffer from a lack of briefing – particularly a half-day kayak around the islands that leaves us exhausted rather than exhilarated. You see it in the accommodation, too, with the two hotels in which we stay – Palau Pacific Resort and Cove Resort – a half step below what you'd find elsewhere in the Pacific, even if the service at both is smiling, helpful and professional (and we're told there are holiday rentals scattered among the slick modern homes that sit in the bucolic hills overlooking Koror). The food is better. We're treated to capably elevated Euro-inflected cuisine at the Elilai restaurant and bar, homely Japanese at picture-book cute Tori Tori, and unctuous, spice-packed Indian at buzzy Taj Palau. None are groundbreaking, but all make the most of local produce to present tasty food at a good price. Palau's other major attraction for Western visitors is its modern history, and in particular its setting as a major battleground during the Second World War. Japan occupied Palau from 1914 until General Douglas MacArthur decided to take the islands in preparation for an invasion of the Philippines. Two months of vicious combat followed. We learn about the battle towards the end of our stay on a tour of the island of Peleliu, to the south-west of Palau's main archipelago, where evidence of the carnage is scattered throughout the jungle. We walk through an expansive Japanese bunker and investigate an eerie, vine-covered former headquarters. The showstopper, though, is a short hike along a rainforest trail, the trees parting to reveal the unmistakable hulk of a derelict American Sherman tank. We're told the tank crawled over a landmine and was launched down a hill beyond, coming to rest on its side in this root-strewn clearing. You can imagine the thunder and chaos of that evening; now, the tank is a ghostly relic, the only noise the gentle patter of raindrops on its mangled hull. As we travel back to the mainland we come across more American military hardware, this time modern and very much in use. US Marine Corps engineers have been busy repairing and now extending the old Japanese airfield. The joint-use runway will be used by locals but also the US military, which views it as critical to its strategic capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. It's a stark reminder that, despite its diminutive size, Palau is caught in a game of strategic aid being played across the region between China, and the US and its traditional allies. Some of the marines are staying at our resort. That evening I chat to a young sergeant about how he views this quiet arm wrestle. 'The feedback we generally get from people across the region is, yes, China is investing a lot,' he says, 'but they don't engage as much on a community level. I think that gives us an edge.' His words ring in my head on our final day as I take in Palau from above via a scenic flight with Smile Air. I look down at the azure seas and vivid jungle, and think about all we've experienced. Palau's unique marine ecology has been deemed of universal value by UNESCO, but the country's geographical position as the 'anchor' of the Second Island Chain means it's of geopolitical value for the US, and indeed Australia. In the short to medium term, that will likely mean more and more visitors coming to investigate this stunning corner of the Pacific. Maybe try to beat them to it.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
The stunning Pacific island nation just waiting to be discovered
It's Sunday morning and I'm standing in a taro patch. In front of us, Dirradai Uai Skebong bends and hacks at a sea of lurid green stalks with a machete, her dog sniffing idly at our feet. Eventually she reaches down and, with an audible heave, pulls an enormous taro root from the mud. This is the Airai Cultural Tour, our first stop on our first morning in Palau. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful introduction to the tiny Micronesian island nation. The air is thick with a tropical dewiness, dialling up the saturated colour of the surrounding hilly jungle, and brightly detailed Palauan houses with their blend of traditional and contemporary styling. Skebong holds up the root for us to inspect. It glistens with mud. Suddenly, there's a thunderous roar. Behind Skebong, framed by the trees at the end of her plot, a Qantas 737 surges into the sky, seemingly close enough to touch. Instinctively, we wave. The plane last night delivered us from Brisbane, and is off on its return leg. It will be a week before the little Boeing returns. In December Qantas took over this route, dubbed the Palau Paradise Express, from Nauru Airlines. The Palau Paradise Express is just one small part of a comprehensive investment package in the Pacific by the Australian government via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Qantas will tell you it saw an immediate surge in searches for Palau after it announced it was taking over the service. That's translating into bums on seats – hence why I'm here with a bunch of other journalists. 'We're a known brand in Australia and I think we naturally resonate with Australians,' said Kathryn Robertson, when asked what landed the national carrier the contract for the route. Robertson is Qantas' executive general manager of sales and distribution, and was at Brisbane Airport the day before as part of the service's official launch. Loading 'The strength of our network and our frequent flyer offering are all factors that would help generate that demand for customers to want to go [to Palau] with Qantas.' Also at the airport (and on our flight) was Palau's president, Surangel Samuel Whipps jnr. The American-born Whipps is an easy mix of political charm and Pacific island insouciance. He, of course, wants Australians to flock to Palau and spruiks it effortlessly. 'We want more tourists from North America, Europe and Australia,' Whipps jnr said. 'I mentioned in the press conference just now a study that Cornell [University] did, which evaluated that Australians are the best target market for Palau because they're high spending, they care about the environment and they're adventurers. 'They love nature and that's what Palau has to offer.' He's not wrong. Our itinerary for the first few days immerses us in some of the most jaw-dropping scenery I've experienced in 11 years of travel journalism. Palau is a nation of about 340 islands scattered across 466 square kilometres, and there's little doubt it's best experienced on the water. On our second morning we venture out with Neco Marine on a shaded dive boat to explore the surrounding marine sanctuary. First stop? The Milky Way, we're told. But this one's in the water. The dive boat surges along before veering towards a maze of islands that sprout, mushroom-like, from the sea. The boat leans this way and that – left-right-left – densely forested limestone cliffs whizzing by, almost close enough to touch, before powering down and floating serenely into a narrow, secluded lagoon. I stand and remove my sunglasses. The water around us pops with a rich turquoise that almost glows in the gentle morning light. I've never seen anything like it. This shallow retreat with its rich limestone mud seafloor is considered by locals a natural spa. We dive in. The water (and creamy sludge beneath) carries a whiff of sulfur, and the sea lice are soon attacking my armpits. But enveloped in its gentle warmth, I hardly care. For the rest of the day we hop around the water park to different snorkelling spots. I haven't made time for a dive on this trip – a decision I regret as I slip under the waves and into an entirely different world. We float with the current over reefs stacked in a kaleidoscope of coral, schools of triggerfish, parrotfish and convict surgeonfish, the occasional curious reef shark eyeballing us from a distance. For 10 minutes I tail a hawksbill turtle as it dives and surfaces, moseying around for food. It's special stuff. Not so great is a trip to Jellyfish Lake, a marine lake on Eil Malk Island. A swim among its thousands of harmless jellyfish is a Palau calling card – and is presented as a highlight on our Palau Visitor Authority itinerary – but as we approach the island's pontoon our guides become reticent, and then reluctant for us to get off the dive boat. The jellyfish are gone, they eventually concede, victims of a reef bleaching incident in 2017. We stand, silent and confused, before deciding to tackle the short hike to the lake anyway. Turns out, the guides are right – the luminous golden jellyfish from the brochures are nowhere to be seen. All we find is the occasional moon jellyfish (also harmless). It's a bust, although the jellyfish populations are expected to rebound in the coming years. It's not the only clumsy moment. Palau is still getting used to welcoming visitors, it seems, and a couple of otherwise professionally run tours maybe go on for too long, or suffer from a lack of briefing – particularly a half-day kayak around the islands that leaves us exhausted rather than exhilarated. You see it in the accommodation, too, with the two hotels in which we stay – Palau Pacific Resort and Cove Resort – a half step below what you'd find elsewhere in the Pacific, even if the service at both is smiling, helpful and professional (and we're told there are holiday rentals scattered among the slick modern homes that sit in the bucolic hills overlooking Koror). The food is better. We're treated to capably elevated Euro-inflected cuisine at the Elilai restaurant and bar, homely Japanese at picture-book cute Tori Tori, and unctuous, spice-packed Indian at buzzy Taj Palau. None are groundbreaking, but all make the most of local produce to present tasty food at a good price. Palau's other major attraction for Western visitors is its modern history, and in particular its setting as a major battleground during the Second World War. Japan occupied Palau from 1914 until General Douglas MacArthur decided to take the islands in preparation for an invasion of the Philippines. Two months of vicious combat followed. We learn about the battle towards the end of our stay on a tour of the island of Peleliu, to the south-west of Palau's main archipelago, where evidence of the carnage is scattered throughout the jungle. We walk through an expansive Japanese bunker and investigate an eerie, vine-covered former headquarters. The showstopper, though, is a short hike along a rainforest trail, the trees parting to reveal the unmistakable hulk of a derelict American Sherman tank. We're told the tank crawled over a landmine and was launched down a hill beyond, coming to rest on its side in this root-strewn clearing. You can imagine the thunder and chaos of that evening; now, the tank is a ghostly relic, the only noise the gentle patter of raindrops on its mangled hull. As we travel back to the mainland we come across more American military hardware, this time modern and very much in use. US Marine Corps engineers have been busy repairing and now extending the old Japanese airfield. The joint-use runway will be used by locals but also the US military, which views it as critical to its strategic capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. It's a stark reminder that, despite its diminutive size, Palau is caught in a game of strategic aid being played across the region between China, and the US and its traditional allies. Some of the marines are staying at our resort. That evening I chat to a young sergeant about how he views this quiet arm wrestle. 'The feedback we generally get from people across the region is, yes, China is investing a lot,' he says, 'but they don't engage as much on a community level. I think that gives us an edge.' His words ring in my head on our final day as I take in Palau from above via a scenic flight with Smile Air. I look down at the azure seas and vivid jungle, and think about all we've experienced. Palau's unique marine ecology has been deemed of universal value by UNESCO, but the country's geographical position as the 'anchor' of the Second Island Chain means it's of geopolitical value for the US, and indeed Australia. In the short to medium term, that will likely mean more and more visitors coming to investigate this stunning corner of the Pacific. Maybe try to beat them to it.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
'Every Man And His Dog Is Coming': Samoan PM Warns Of Growing Geopolitical Interest In Pacific
Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa says it is a tough time for the Pacific region as leaders navigate a dynamic geopolitical arena, with various countries seeking more involvement and influence. Speaking to RNZ Pacific on the sidelines of the University of the Pacific Council meeting in Auckland this week, she confirmed that the Review of the Regional Architecture (RRA), led by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), is in its final stage. The RRA process aims to ensure regional governance mechanisms are fit-for-purpose, effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of Pacific Island countries. It is the Forum leaders' response to increasing interest from a growing number of PIF dialogue partners wanting a seat at the regional decision-making table. Fiame said with "every man and his dog coming into the Pacific", it is difficult for small Pacific Island administrations to navigate evolving geopolitical interests. "The geopolitical situation [in the] Pacific is becoming very contested. It is becoming very congested." She said the first two phases for the RRA - a situation analysis and drawing recommendations from the result of that analysis - have been completed. "Now, the third phase, which has been undertaken by a team of making the rounds, taking the recommendations, having sit-downs with leaders in the region to go through the recommendations," she said. "But their basic question is: Is Pacific unity still there? Do we still want it? If we do, what do we want it to look like?" Asked if Pacific unity was still there, she said: "We say it is. But in practice, I personally think that there is fragmentation. "There is always that conflict between the collective and national interests and so forth. We really do have to be thinking about what is it, in regionalism, that we want to make sure stays?" The US relationship Fiame said the United States would be a "significant element" of the regional reforms. However, she noted most of America's aid goes to Micronesian nations. "For us in Samoa, we have American Samoa as a territory of the US. I think that's something we need to pay some attention to - how any decisions made by any administration of America filtering through to American Samoa because [of] the vicinity of our closeness," she said. "We've also been building, other than the kinship ties, the government-to-government relations with American Samoa. They're an important market to us." She said their concerns included pronouncements related to ocean assets. "That's a regional concern for all of us - the protection of our marine environment, which actors are going to be there? How will it impact on the interests of the Pacific countries?" "I think that particular issue, especially hand-in-hand with seabed mining." Domestic political landscape Meanwhile, Fiame said she has yet to decide her political affiliation she will support in the next election. Samoa's parliament has had its share of turmoil this year, with party sackings and motions of no confidence. "Our focus at the moment is completing the term and that has always been an issue," she said. "We had two motions of no confidence. I have always said that parliament would determine whether we remain in government as a minority government, and it would appear that that is still the status quo." She said the budget is coming out next week, which is another usual parliamentary issue that determines confidence. "My reading is no one really wants to go to an early election. There are a few technical issues that would make it difficult. The main one being that we are doing a complete re-registration of the voters, and I think we are not yet at 60 percent. "What we've said in our cabinet is that we all need to pay attention to our individual constituencies - whether we want to run again or not. Fiame has also ruled out representing the FAST party in future elections. "There's some real credibility issues around the party now with the split [and] also the personalities. "I think if we do go forward, it will either be under a completely different umbrella or independent. We still have to make that decision."
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Pacific ‘Needs Predictability' In A ‘Changing Environment'
A Solomon Islands foreign affairs official says the 'Pacific needs predictability in all our cooperation with everyone' amid geostrategic shifts. Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin Editor Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have drafted a letter to the Trump administration, addressing concerns about the United States' support in the region. Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Ministry permanent secretary Collin Beck told RNZ Pacific that there are significant gaps between what Washington has committed to and what it has actually delivered in the region. The Biden administration promised US$200 million in new funding to the Pacific, but the money has not yet been delivered. It is one of the concerns Forum leaders may look to address with the Trump administration as well as import tariffs and millions of dollars owed by the US to fish for tuna in the Pacific Ocean. 'The world has changed…and with the United States' posture, we just need to keep talking and adapt to the changing environment,' Beck said. 'The Pacific needs predictability in all our cooperation with everyone, and it will not stop,' he said. Last week, PIF chair and Tongan Prime Minister Dr 'Aisake Eke, the incoming PIF chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, and Palau President Surangel Whipps – as the Micronesian representative – held their first in-person meeting this year at the Forum headquarters in Suva. Among the key issues on their agenda were the implications of the US tariffs and the Review of the Regional Architecture (RRA). The RRA is the PIF leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat – and influence – at the regional decision making table. The Forum Secretariat said the Troika leaders discussed the high-level political talanoa process, which will focus on political consultations with Forum leaders on strengthening Pacific regionalism, and a fit-for-purpose regional architecture. 'The Review of the Regional Architecture comes at a timely juncture and gives us the opportunity to reflect on Pacific Regionalism and what we need to do to strengthen and realise deeper regionalism in the Pacific,' Dr Eke said. 'This too will shape how we refine our regional architecture to drive the achievement of our 2050 vision.' Beck confirmed that an eminent persons group was endorsed by the PIF Troika leaders while in Fiji last week. 'There is a high-level persons group that will hold more consultation going into another phase of the review,' Beck said. Currently, both China and the US have dialogue partner status along with more than 20 other countries. 'There are dynamics that are happening that might speed the review,' Beck said. 'There is a process in which we are looking at all partners in terms of having a tiered approach in terms of engaging with all our development partners. In relation to United States support that has been suspended to a number of regional entities, Beck said, it means that 'the Pacific will need to adapt and try to also try to see how to mitigate against some of these.' 'We certainly would like to keep working with the United States in finding a solution.' Meanwhile, Solomon Islands hopes the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will unite regional leaders in dialogue and solidarity. Solomon Islands is set to host the annual meeting in Honiara later this year. Manele said it is an opportunity to bring Pacific leaders together in the spirit of unity, dialogue, and collective action. Tavuli News reported Manele saying that Solomon Islands has submitted a proposed theme for this year's gathering, which is now being considered by the Forum Secretariat. He said Solomon Islands wants the theme to reflect the shared challenges and opportunities that bind the region. Manele said that it must speak to the strength of Pacific solidarity and the region's shared future. A national taskforce is now in place to coordinate all aspects of the event.
