KOROR (Palau Horizon) – The additional $15 fee for Palau visitors is good for the tourism industry according to the President of Palau Chambers of Commerce, who is also a businessman.
Francis Remengesau said the $15 fee is actually a half reduction of the original fee which is $30.
A $30 fee was originally set when former President Tommy Remengesau signed the revised PAN Act which includes the establishment of a non-government corporation, the PAN fee and the environmental protection green fee.
But the law was amended and was signed into law this year reducing the amount to $15.
Under the law, tourists are required to pay a total of $50, $30 for the green fee and $20 for the departure tax.
The amended law which will be implemented in November 1 will only require the visitors to pay a total departure tax of $35, $15 for the green fee and $20 for the tax.
The new $35 fee will cover the environmental protection fee and the money generated from the collection will be used for the operation of the Protected Areas Network (PAN) Act.
Remengesau said the new fee is good for Palau and the visitors.
“I don’t think tourist would mine paying that kind of amount as long as they would see the return of their money when they visit Palau again. Besides the amount is just minimal compared to other countries and Palau is not the only country that charge visitors for fee. In other countries visitors pay more than that,” Remengesau said in an interview on Tuesday during the Chamber of Commerce meeting.
“We will use the money to take care of our environment and that’s good so I don’t think the amount would matter that much. They come here because we have a unique marine environment and they see a lot of things and do a lot of diving activity so hopefully the tourist would continue to come here,” he said.
