Host/Havas Australia creates world-first eco-tourism initiative ‘The Palau Pledge’: conservation pledge stamped into visitors’ passports

Host/Havas Australia has unveiled a landmark initiative to help the fragile Pacific Island nation of Palau tackle the negative impacts on the environment of mass tourism. 

The Palau Pledge is a simple, pioneering solution: all visitors to Palau will now be asked to sign a personal promise, stamped in their passports, to protect and preserve Palau for future generations. This commitment is a first of its kind. 

Written with the help of Palauan children, and developed in collaboration with its Government, the country has redesigned its immigration policy and landing procedures. By encouraging visitors to be more conscious about their behaviour while they travel, the Palau Pledge aims to foster a more sustainable form of tourism. 

Tourism is Palau’s biggest form of income, but as the thirteenth smallest nation in the world, its annual visitor numbers are almost eight times the size of its population. The Palau Pledge is a solution that helps Palau preserve its sensitive environment, while also preserving its biggest economic driver. 

VIEW THE CONCEPT  

Host/Havas led the development of the concept, drawing on its breadth of creative, digital, social and production capabilities and expertise to bring the Palau Pledge to life, alongside its sister PR and social agency, Red Agency and members of the Havas global network. They worked in partnership with the Palau Legacy Project team, a local group of voluntary business and marketing professionals that work alongside the Palauan Government to help communicate Palau’s conservation message. 

A dedicated website has been set up to provide information for visitors and the tourism industry. The Pledge has also been backed by a number of global figures including Leonardo DiCaprio, HRH Queen Noor of Jordan, political influencers such as Secretary John Kerry and conservation luminary Dr Sylvia Earle. Through their own social channels, they will be asking people around the world to join them in support of Palau and a more conscious, sustainable form of tourism. 

A film, shot on location and featuring Palauan children, will be played on every inbound flight to Palau. Inspired by an ancient Palauan legend, it tells the story of a giant who came to visit their islands and who acts as a visual metaphor for the cumulative impact that visitors can have on their home. Signage and information packs have also been developed, which will be placed around Palau’s airport and throughout the country to educate and remind visitors and locals alike, about the conditions of the Palau Pledge. 

Seamus Higgins, Executive Creative Director at Host/Havas, said: “Palau is a true paradise, with a legacy of taking bold, pioneering steps to preserve it. They know that to solve something no one else has been able to, you can’t do what everyone else has been doing. Just what can be achieved with such a truly innovative client is incredible and we are honoured to play a meaningful role in helping to protect their country for future generations to enjoy. 

“We knew that to inspire a true and lasting change in behaviour, we had to find a way to make every visitor stop and think, that would transcend culture and nationality. This is behavioural psychology, innovative legislation and creativity coming together to do something that’s never been done before.” 

The philosophy around the Palau Pledge is also being integrated into the children’s education by the Ministry of Education, to help them understand the essential role they play in protecting their country’s future. 

Laura Clarke, one of the four co-founders of the Palau Legacy Project said: “The Palau Pledge is a genuinely innovative solution which provides a significant first step to increasing awareness around eco-tourism practices and what the global community can do to collectively take greater responsibility and make a difference. 

“Most visitors are unaware of the serious impact their individual actions have or even what they can do to help. The Host/Havas team has provided invaluable support in helping us to develop this initiative and realise our mission to communicate these important messages in a way that all guests will understand, and that will compel them to protect Palau as a result. We are hopeful that this will help create a long-lasting legacy for generations to come.” 

The Palau Pledge becomes the latest in Palau’s long history of creating world-firsts in conservation. It was the first country to create a shark sanctuary in its national waters; it was the first to ban the destructive practice of bottom trawling; and in 2015, its leadership created the Palau National Marine Sanctuary: the largest fully-protected, no-take zone in the world. 

Host/Havas

Seamus Higgins – Executive Creative Director

Stu Turner – Executive Creative Director

Paul Bootlis – Creative Director

Gustavo Vampre – Creative Director

Josh Bryer – Digital Creative Director

Gustavo Vampre & Stu Alexander – Senior Art Directors 

Paul Bootlis & Daniel Fryer – Senior Copy Writers 

Darren Cole – Head of Design

Nic Adamovich – Senior Designer

Dylan Reid – Digital Designer

Michael Macgregor – Designer 

Serlina Wong – Designer 

Pip Snelling – Senior Finished Artist/Designer 

Alex Ball – Client Business Director

Maggie de Goede – Account Manager

Mark McKissock – Social Director 

Shea Warnes – Senior Digital Strategist 

Beau Simmons – TV & Video Editor 

Ros Payne – Senior Broadcast Producer 

Thea Clausen – Senior Print Producer 

Andrew Sambell – Senior Digital Producer 

Megan Evans – Digital Producer 

Adam Shutler  – UX & Design Director 

Rhys Hobbs – UX 

Inflight Film Production

Production Company – Yukfoo

ROYGBIV (Evan Viera and Tommy Wooh) – Director  

Alan Dickson –  Producer and Creative Director

Amy Neave –  Animation Producer

Andy Commis – DOP

Chris Lansell – Flying Dragon, Drone Footage

Concept Film

Production Company – The Pool Collective

Danny Eastwood – Director and Photographer

Oliver Quirk – Camera Operator

Photography

Production Company – The Pool Collective

Cameron Gray – Executive Producer

Sean Izzard  – Photographer

Sarah England – Camera Assist

Enric Sala – National Geographic 

Music/Sound 

Sound Studio – Song Zu 

Abigail Sie – Sound Designer 

Jed Kurzel – Composer 

Red Agency

Adam Freedman – Head of Consumer

Kat
ie Lettice – Senior Account Manager

Jackie Holt – Senior Account Manager

Andrea Philips – Senior Account Executive

Caroline Jeffery – Senior Account Executive

Madeline Mullins – Account Executive

Sarah Dillon – Account Executive

Palau Legacy Project

First Lady of Palau, Debbie Remengesau – Chairperson

Laura Clarke – Co-founder

Nicolle Fagan – Co-founder

Jennifer Koskelin Gibbons  – Co-founder

Nanae Singeo – Co-founder

Vaughn Allen – Stategist