With points for sustainable behavior, visitors to Palau can unlock exclusive experiences

While travelers are increasingly aware of tourism's detrimental effect on the places they love, they're also not necessarily looking to be schooled or scolded when they're on holiday. To nudge people in the right direction, destinations need to devise rewards that are worth the (minor) effort.

Palau, which calls itself the Pristine Paradise, is on the right track by offering access to places and encounters that are usually only accessible to native Palauans. It's an exclusivity that money can't buy, and the resulting experiences can genuinely enrich a visitor's stay without deflating their escapist state of mind.

As Alan T. Marbou, Board Member of the Palau Visitors Authority, points out: "The pandemic has provided our planet with a much-needed wake-up call and an opportunity to see what is possible when nature has a chance to rebalance itself. We hope that Ol'au Palau will inspire more destinations to think about the true cost of tourism and rethink who they reward with their best experiences."