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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Friends,
 s the President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), it is my pleasure to welcome you to the FSM Visitors Board (FSMVB) website. My fellow Micronesians and I share a great deal of pride in this country's natural beauty and our unique way of life. We invite you to visit our islands and discover the tranquillity and beauty of the four corners of paradise – the island states of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae.
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We are a relatively new independent island nation within the international community, but our four island states and rich culture have prospered in the Western Pacific for thousands of years. Maintaining our unique cultural heritage and welcoming the outside world to share it with us is one of the top priorities of my government. Our islands are becoming a popular niche destination for the growing adventure travel market. The FSM is served by several flights weekly with connections from Asia, Europe and North America, yet we are far enough away that our culture and natural beauty remain largely untouched by the 21st century. Evidently, cultural and eco-tourism opportunities abound in the FSM and we happily encourage partnership to drive sustainable growth and development in the tourism sector.
You will find colourful cultural ceremonies on the outer islands performed much as they have been for centuries. You'll find ruins left by our ancestors in places such as the enigmatic cities of Nan Madol on Pohnpei and Lelu on Kosrae. Relics from the Truk Lagoon of Chuuk has become a world-famous dive destination for the Japanese fleet that was sunk in the lagoon during World War II over 60 years ago. Our coral reefs are teeming with exotic marine life and attract divers from all over the world. The mysteries of our ancient ruins at dusk, the serenity of our deserted island beaches, the unique wonders of a Yap village and its Stone Money Banks, the ethereal beauty of our coral reefs with parts extending to the unexplored world of Yap Trench, the warm hospitality of the Micronesian people with open arms and much more are all waiting to welcome you.
For all our tradition and rich heritage we are not a “backward country”. Our infrastructure is well developed, helped in part through a close and ongoing relationship with the United States for the past fifty years and by our emerging partners who include Japan, China and Australia just to name a few.
The FSMVB was established to coordinate the tourism promotion of the nation in a manner that highlights the FSM as a single tourism destination with four unique and distinctive locations - the four corners of paradise. This web site is an important element in its efforts to raise the awareness of the attractiveness of the FSM and our island states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap as unique vacation destinations. I am confident that you will find the FSM a one-of-a-kind experience to remember and treasure forever.
On behalf of the people of the FSM, please enjoy this virtual tour of our islands and we invite you to visit us soon to discover for yourself why we’re called the four corners of paradise.
With warmest regards,
Sincerely,
Joseph J. Urusemal
President
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