Vice President Hsiao Inspects Malakal Island Development, Aims to Create New Palau Tourism Highlight

(Central News Agency, Koror, Palau, 9th) Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim inspected the Malakal Island development plan in Palau today. She stated that while Palau has long been known for its marine tourism, she hopes to create a new, sustainable, and distinctive tourism highlight by improving onshore recreational facilities in collaboration with local residents.

The 'Malakal Island Development Plan' is a key project under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' 'Glory Plan,' aimed at assisting the Palauan government in developing various recreational facilities on Malakal Island for use by local people and tourists. This is expected to not only enhance local welfare but also attract more visitors and promote economic development.

According to reports, a feasibility assessment conducted by Taiwan's CECI Engineering Consultants, Inc. focused on two main areas: the Long Island Park development plan and the construction of pedestrian and bicycle paths. The preliminary plan involves redesigning existing facilities at Long Island Park, introducing recreational amenities such as a coastal promenade, a suspension bridge, and a water play area, and establishing pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes in Koror State to improve local transportation.

CECI Engineering Consultants formed a professional team that visited Palau in February this year for an on-site survey. Accompanied by Taiwan's Ambassador to Palau, Chen Gang-yi, the team met with Palauan President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. to exchange views on the overall development plan for Malakal Island and future cooperation directions.

On the fourth day of her visit to Palau, Vice President Hsiao, accompanied by Ambassador Chen, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ko Bao-shiuan, and Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Ching-yi, listened to a briefing from CECI urban planner Yeh Hsiao-chen.

Vice President Hsiao told the media that the most important aspect of the Long Island Park plan is the participation of local residents to create a space that meets community needs. She noted that Palau has always attracted international tourists with its ocean, and hopes that future improvements and connections of onshore facilities will diversify the tourism experience and drive local development.

Yeh Hsiao-chen explained that the overall vision plan for Malakal Island and Koror State aims to deepen sustainable tourism cooperation between Taiwan and Palau, emphasizing adherence to sustainable tourism principles, preservation of the island's ecology, and the establishment of a unique Palauan tourism brand. The overall development vision is centered on 'Take it slow, let life grow,' with a strategy of '1 Park, 2 Systems, 3 Islands, 4 Corridors.'

She elaborated that '1 Park' refers to upgrading Long Island Park from a local recreational space to an international tourism hotspot. '2 Systems' involves combining buses and bicycles to promote low-carbon tourism. '3 Islands' connects Malakal Island, Koror State, and Airai State. '4 Corridors' encompass development axes for island tourism services, commuting and living, demonstration zones, and international gateways.

The plan also incorporates cultural, historical, and waterfront space creation, including the preservation of prehistoric murals and WWII sites, improvement of waterfront recreational facilities, and the creation of nighttime landscape landmarks. Simultaneously, it introduces a people-oriented transportation concept, with designs for pedestrian-vehicle separation, rain gardens, and improved walking spaces to enhance overall recreational quality, serving as a key demonstration project for Taiwan-Palau cooperation in promoting sustainable tourism.