By Scott Radway
For Pacific Daily News
KOROR, Palau -- This out-of-the-way tropical island nation and its endless Eden-like vistas is atop the short list of locations being considered for the next season of America's popular television series "Survivor," local officials reported this week.

A scout team from the reality-TV show is expected to arrive in Palau from Los Angeles as early as Sunday and meet with government officials about the needs of the producers. The three-person crew also will visit possible sites for the show's signature tribal councils and contestant challenges.

"Palau is their No. 1 choice," said President Tommy Remengesau at a press conference Wednesday. "And we welcome the opportunity."

Palau's main economic engine is eco-tourism, but it also wants to court filmmakers and television shows, Remengesau said. Already Palau has hosted a Japanese survivor television series and was the site of a recent Yahoo! commercial featuring a talking dolphin.

For certain, Palau would be a prime shooting location for "Survivor." The westernmost archipelago in Oceania, it is within what scientists call the "bull's-eye of biodiversity." That means you find more kinds of odd creatures here than almost anywhere else.

Most of the fewer than 20,000 residents of Palau live on a handful of main islands, leaving more than 500 pristine, uninhabited islands from which to choose ideal locations for the show. The most famous grouping is the Rock Islands, a stunning network of raised limestone where verdant jungle drips into tantalizing aqua lagoons.

The only drawback to filming in Palau appears to be the travel expense of film crews, said Billy Kuartei, the president's chief of staff. But government officials are working with airlines to provide reduced rates.

Local officials did not know what other locations are in the running, but competition to host the event is steep. Nations are eager to take advantage of the millions of dollars worth of exposure for their countries. It is estimated 26 million people watch the show weekly in the United States. "Survivor" is aired in 50 countries.

The basic strategy of the show is to avoid being voted out of the game. Aside from the prime-time television exposure and merchandising, the soap-opera antics of the contestants as they attempt to boot each other off draws seemingly endless coverage from print and electronic media. Australian tourist officials gauged the promotional value of hosting "Survivor: Outback" in 2000 at $2.6 billion.

In exchange for the publicity for the host nation, "Survivor" producers ask for everything from tax breaks and visa waivers to security for the filming site to keep out snooping reporters or curious fans. In Palau's case, security will likely mean providing patrol boats around the chosen islands.

The filming site must be uninhabited and without a trace of development in the vicinity. At the same time, it must be close enough to a developed area to house crews and provide emergency care.

The show's presence could incite a debate about the possible effect of film crews on the environment. Conservationists here have only just begun to digest the proposal. Remengesau said the producers will be well informed of the laws regulating their activities.

Remengesau said this is the kind of activity Palau wants to see -- low environmental impact and huge benefit to the growing tourism industry.

"This would definitely put Palau on the map," Remengesau said.