BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES A complete guide to Africa’s leading business travel destinations
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erched above Indonesia and 550 kilometres to the west of the Philippines, Palau is an extraordinary nation. Made up of 340 coral and volcanic islands on the Kyushu-Palau Ridge, the archipelago offers some of the most breath-taking underwater sights one is likely to see. From unspoiled coral and pristine beaches to Second World War relics (on land and under the sea) and offroad jungle treks, Palau more than
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makes up for what is a tiny area of land. Around 18,000 inhabitants live on these islands, the main population centres being found in Babelthuap (Babeldaob), Koror, Malakal, Arakabesan, and Peleliu. Despite their remoteness, the islands have a long settlement history. It is believed that they were first inhabited around 2,000 to 3,000 years ago by Malays from Indonesia, Melanesians from New Guinea, Philippine natives, and some Polynesians from outlying
ASIA Polynesian islands in Micronesia. Since the Second World War, the government has been the major employer here, although many rural areas operate on a subsistence economy. The USA continues to provide financial support to the nation, its official currency still being the US dollar. Tourism has provided a recent economic boost, a shift which has helped see Palau generate one of the highest per capita incomes in the region.
Formed of around 340 coral and volcanic islands, Palau is known as the diver’s paradise with its abundance of underwater gems and military relics making for fascinating viewing Writer: Tom Wadlow | Project Manager: Jordan Levey
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