Guam Tourism Statistics
Tourist-Guam StatisticsRecordbreaking tourism figures for Guam despite decline in incoming traffic to Japan
The Guam Visitor Bureau reports that Guam ended the 2017 financial year with a new attendance of 1.56 million, the highest in a financial year to date. In the 2017 financial year, 3.2 per cent more registered than in the prior year, which had already achieved the current all-time high. Governor Eddie Calvo and Governor Ray Tenorio praised the tourism office for its work in the hotel and services area.
In spite of the rise in visitor numbers, there was a drop in the number of visits from Japan. As a factor for the drop, the tourism office named the reductions in air travel, seat capacities and tensions between the USA and North Korea. In Japan, the drop in the number of people arriving was compensated by an increased number of souther Koreans.
GVB provisional September figures show 58,880 Korea arrives, an 33 percent rise over the prior months, making South Korea the month's most important currency trading destination. Guam recorded 43,870 visits to Japan in September, 32.6 percent fewer than in the same period last year. This was followed by a year-on-year decline in other markets:
"18 (Fiscal) is off to a harsh beginning with the North Korea News," said GVB President and CEO Nathan Denight. Following North Korea's threat of a nuke, Guam saw 7,556 annulments, resulting in a $9.5 million in losses for Guam, according to GVB. The majority of these refusals came from classes, trips and corporate trips and were scheduled between September and December.
"The GVB is working closely with our governments and tourism industry to meet the challenge in our key markets." In the further course of 2018, Guam is facing the suspense of United Airlines and Delta Airlines services between Japan and Guam. Delta will cease operations between Tokyo and Guam in January, while United will cease operations between Guam and Sapporo.
The GVB works with partner companies to attract agencies and foreign journalists who visit the islands in the hope of recovering them. As a reaction to the fall in tourism, Calvo has formed a taskforce of GVB officers, the Guam Airport Authority and the Guam Economic Development Authority to develop efficient strategies to preserve Guam's Guam image as an important global tourist attraction.