

"Energized and Excited," Palau welcomes tourists after a year of COVID-19 border closure
By Bernadette Carreon KOROR- Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. said he is “ energized and excited” by the arrival of nearly 100 tourists in Palau for the first travel bubble with Taiwan. On April 1, Palau opened its border to tourists after a year of COVID-19 related closure. Escorting the 100 tourists from Taiwan back to Palau, the president sees the travel bubble as a "ray of light" from the pandemic that devastated its tourism-reliant economy. President Surangel Whipp