GUAM: Tourism Doing Son Well As A Result Of Team Work By Stake Holders

Guam’s tourism economy has grown exponentially over the last several years.

The success achieved is not due to any one person or agency.

It is the hard work of thousands of people. From our leaders to the over 20,000 employees in the industry, everyone works to make Guam a better place to live, work and visit.

Every two years, the Guam Visitors Bureau publishes the Tourism Satellite Account, which uses the United Nation’s global standard for measuring the economic value of tourism.

Conducted by independent firm Tourism Economics, with local government agencies, it shows the impact of tourism on Guam.

Highlights from the 2015 report include:

Visitor spending grew 6.8 percent, reaching $1.6 billion with a total impact on business sales of more than $2.3 billion.
More than 20,300 jobs, with associated income of $590 million, were sustained by visitors.
These jobs represent 33 percent of total employment.
Including indirect and induced impacts, tourism generated $245 million in taxes.

If tourism didn’t exist, each household would pay $4,840 in additional taxes to maintain the current level of government services.

Revenue made by tourism, received by the government of Guam, touches every part of our island home.

From public safety to beautification, health and education, tourism provides for all our people. On an annual basis, tourism funds government services, including:

operations of the Tamuning-Tumon police precinct;
street maintenance and islandwide beautification through the village mayoral office;
the Environmental Protection Agency’s beach monitoring program;
maintenance and repair of public pools and restrooms under the Department of Parks and Recreation;
the Lodging and Management Program at the Guam Community College;
the operations of the Guampedia Foundation; and
GVB’s Cultural Heritage, Sports and Events grant programs.

Tourism also funds community organizations, projects and events such as:

the Guam International Film Festival;
the GUMA program that supports small businesses;
the Tourism Education Council that works with Guam’s youth;
Pa’aTaotaoTano, which promotes and perpetuates the Chamorro Culture;
the humanitarian efforts provided by the Ayuda Foundation; and
the operations of Historic Inalahan

The success of tourism is not due to any one person or agency.

Guam is known for its hospitality and håfa adai spirit.

The people who work on the front lines are the essence of the Guam brand.

They are the reason tourism is thriving and has a big impact in our lives.

It is the values and welcoming spirit of our people that emboldens our mission to make Guam a better place to live, work and visit.

Now is the time to reinvest in our future.

While it cannot solve all of Guam’s problems, tourism goes a long way to provide resources to fund projects that preserve our culture, sustain our way of life and improve safety.

Tourism works for all of us!