Now if you're heading to the Pacific Island of Palau, you'll be signing up to a new pledge. Human impact on Earth's environment is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. The small island nation of Palau was feeling these impacts acutely.
Tourists were damaging reefs, littering oceans and poaching protected species. How could a small local population with limited resources Police the high volume of visitors. What if we made the tourists police themselves? Introducing the Palau Pledge, the first of its kind immigration policy for good. All visitors now need to sign an environmental pledge to gain admittance into Palau.
Stamped into the passport of international arrivals, the pledge is a formal promise to Palau's children. Children of Palau, I take this pledge to preserve and protect your beautiful and unique island home. To implement this policy, government, the two countries, tourist industry and citizens were brought together.
A new visa entry stamp was designed and issued in multiple languages and immigration laws were permanently changed. The jolt that comes with the plates is the recognition that, hey, I can make a difference. But we didn't stop at the passport stand. We redesigned the tourism experience via a website, an in-flight film, a passport insert, local education, business accreditation, signage, penalties and collateral.
Launched at the UN, the Palau Pledge has been praised by international leaders and groups. Influencers helped inspire people to take the pledge online in solidarity with Palau. Are you already seeing tourists behaving differently?
The awareness level is increasing. level is very high. Leonardo DiCaprio has been quick to endorse the pledge. The reaction on social media has been widespread. The Palau Pledge has raised global awareness of the responsibility this generation has to the next.
But its biggest impact is local in Palau. I hope my children can see the beautiful place as I see today.