This story was produced by our colleagues at the BBC.
The MK Hotel on Malakal island in Palau boasts the features you’d expect from a Pacific island resort: beautiful views, a pristine private beach and clear, blue waters.
Tyler Shin is the owner, and the hotel specializes in diving tours. Before the pandemic, it catered to mainly South Korean visitors; for many Koreans, diving in Palau is a bucket list activity.
“Pre-COVID, at the capacity of the rooms, 80% per month were from Korea,” Shin said.
But four years after the start of the pandemic, when most countries have removed restrictions, tourism operators like Shin are still waiting for a full recovery.
Before 2020, tourism used to account for around 50% of Palau’s gross domestic product. The country’s GDP has since dropped by one-fifth, much of it due to the impact on the tourist…
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