Saturday, February 8, 2025

President of Palau marks milestone Qantas flights

The President of Palau, His Excellency Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., visited Brisbane last week to celebrate the launch of Qantas’ new direct flight service between Brisbane and Koror. The milestone service strengthens tourism ties between Australia and Palau, making the pristine island nation more accessible to Australian travellers.

Strengthening tourism and trade ties

The visit, hosted by the Palau Visitors Authority (PVA) Australia in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), featured a series of events to promote Palau as a premier travel destination.

On 31 January, DFAT welcomed Brisbane-based travel trade partners and travel and lifestyle media to an exclusive lunch at Alchemy, hosted by President Whipps. Anne Lee from PVA Australia opened the event with an introduction highlighting PVA’s success in the Australian market over the past year.

During the lunch, President Whipps provided an update on Palau’s latest tourism developments and discussed opportunities for trade partnerships. Key attendees included representatives from Ignite Travel Group, Flight Centre Travel Group, Luxury Escapes, and Brisbane-based media.

Celebrating the Palau Paradise Express

To mark the launch of Qantas’ new service, PVA and Qantas hosted a press conference at Brisbane Airport on 3 February. Attended by dignitaries including Ryan Both, Executive General Manager, Aviation at Brisbane Airport Corporation, Kathryn Robertson, Executive Manager Global Sales and Distribution at Qantas, and Charlotte Blundell, First Assistant Secretary Strategic Infrastructure and Economic Division at DFAT, the event highlighted the significance of the new route.

The introduction of Qantas’ direct Brisbane-Koror service represents a major step forward in increasing accessibility to Palau, known for its pristine natural beauty, marine biodiversity, and unique cultural heritage.

A growing market for Australian travellers

The Australian market is an important driver of tourism growth for Palau, with the new direct service expected to boost visitor numbers and strengthen economic ties between the two nations. PVA remains committed to working closely with industry partners to further position Palau as a must-visit destination in the Pacific.

For more information on visiting Palau, go to pristineparadisepalau.com.

Kate Webster
Kate Websterhttp://www.travellerkate.com
Kate Webster is a world traveller, ocean lover and conservation warrior who is determined to make every moment count for herself and the world around her. She translates those moments and shares them through her storytelling. An adventurer at heart with a curious spirit to explore, her work has taken her to the edges of the Earth. Kate has delved into the world of wildlife and conservation travel to bring awareness. www.travellerkate.com

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