Palau is an island paradise standing up to the world

The tiny island of Palau is a remote, beautiful paradise and the rest of the world knows it. But existing in a connected world can put extreme stress on small countries. The nation of just 20,000 people has seen an influx of tourists recently, but that hasn’t necessarily been a good thing.

But visitors arriving by the tens of thousands from such behemoths as Japan, South Korea, and China, put considerable stress on Palau’s environment and economy.

Quartz News travels far into the Pacific to find out how the island nation of Palau is standing up for itself against the world’s superpowers.

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WATCH OUR EXCLUSIVE SERIES; Because China

[Bru]

Being born in Palau and now living in Missouri, it's time to go back.

[MiyuruWeerarathna]

You can maybe restrict the numbers of tourists visiting. By increasing visa fees and limiting it. Maybe it would create your own hype for tourism too. To sustain demand long term. Amazing little country.

[jessicalt]

Fight for yourself, Palau!! Don’t let investors over build and tourists ruin it!! Be careful and you are in charge. You can set limits. Good luck!!

[ariellittaua]

Palauans are our brothers. It's the most special oceanian country for us. Love from the Philippines ❤️❤️❤️

[aaronburr]

I'm a student in a Filipino private school, and I could say that a lot of us know about Palau. It is a country near ours and our embassies are usually responsible for them too. Our people also look alike, so they could easily fit in to our country.

[micronesianmermaid]

I miss 🇵🇼 Palau! And I really miss my family there! So beautiful and the environment and culture so rich. Proud to be a Palauan ❤️

[TaYLoRBReaKouT]

Now all the instragrammers wanna go there

[tammyb]

The environment is the economy and the economy is the environment. Powerful words

[jituteron]

Most tourists are disrespectful, but if they are Chinese then you can say that out loud

[tkk]

Yeah love Palau bro~
Greeting from Japan 🇯🇵 🤝 🇵🇼

[KontroldChaos]

I love this video. Thanks for being a part in our voice to save the earth. I was born and raised here and I plan to help keep palau the way it is, so that my kids, and my kid's kids can enjoy the same things I get to enjoy right now

[tanyacarabio]

Please respect this nation when you visit. Thanks, from a Palauan.

[nfmnjpp]

Palauans, your country is amazing, I'm planning to visit it with my boyfriend in the future, I'm from Morocco
Love this beautiful nature, save it from pollution and bad people .

[NgsxyLAreds]

Stop thinking about how palau should be for tourism, think about how it should be for palauans .

[craigmartin]

I love this video my family is from Palau but I was born and raised in the US so hearing about people are being more aware of my country is great and awesome THANKS❤️

[evilwitch]

Hey! I’m a Palauan! I just came back from visiting there! Tourists are a little bit bothering but the place is still beautiful! I’m glad to be Palauan!

[kobeyamanguchi]

Thank you all for the respect of my home🤙 much love🇵🇼

[svenheilborn]

Congratulations for your national holiday on 1st October Palau from your friends in Germany <3
Palau is a beautiful country with so nice landscape, coasts, people and culture. We are proud to call you our friends. Wish you all the best for the future.

[adventure]

A part of me wishes this video was never made because while this raises concern and conservation for Palau, it also makes Palau more aware to the general public and thus more tourists

[mikeas]

Their president is chilling, casual Friday every day. That the greatest thing I've ever seen.