Guam eyes more than 20k Filipino visitors
More visitors mean better business
Guam, the closest US destination in the Pacific, targets to tally more than 20,000 Filipino visitors by the end of this year. That number is a fair jump from its yearly average of 19,000 that accounts for 6 percent of its visitor mix.
Social media influencers Satoumi from Japan, Sermin Hong from Korea, JR Lee from Taiwan, Flavia Wong from Hong Kong, Gao Min (Nono) from China, Alodia Gosiengfiao from the Philippines and Zoe Paradigma from Russia promote Shop Guam e-Festival last year
“We can enhance our product by providing quality service and once-in-a-lifetime experiences for travelers as we work with the US government to achieve a Guam-only visa waiver for the Phillipines,” said Pilar Laguaña, Director for Global Marketing of Guam Visitors Bureau.
According to GVB’s study, the top three reasons for choosing to visit Guam are shopping, relaxation, and pleasure, in that order of importance. That being said, with an average length stay of six months, it is a key note that the average amount of island spending in this spot of the world is US$463.20, which is equivalent to P23,000.
It is also significant to point that 61 percent of the visitors are first-timers, stressing the high interest of Filipinos in testing the waters in Guam.
Providing extra thrill to the spending lot is the annual Shop Guam e-Festival, held from November through February, and which provides around 200 discounts available throughout Guam’s shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, optional tours and locally-made Guam products.
Trolleys and buses are also available for easy routes to the island’s shopping centers like Micronesia Mall, T-Galleria, Guam Premier Outlets, Tumon Sands Plaza and Agana Shopping Center.
“We continue to promote Guam as safe, clean and family-friendly,” explained Laguaña, emphasizing the “home away from home” atmosphere that greets Filipino visitors.
At present, Filipino residents in Guam account for 26 percent of the Guam population.
She added, “The Chamorrro culture of hospitality in bringing friends and family together mirrors Filipino resolve while the welcoming feeling of togetherness with a friendly smile similar to the Filipino hospitality is a trait visitors will enjoy.”
GVB raised the ante of promoting Guam through implementation of cost-effective traditional and marketing strategies. This is done by partnering with airlines, with the trade industry, and with media. Aggressively participating in B2B trade events in Metro Manila, and all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao also helps.
Just three and a half hours away by plane ride, there are three main carriers servicing direct flights from the Phillipines, namely, United Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.
In a previous report, Guam received 19,818 visitors from the Philippines last year, roughly a six percent increase compared to the previous year’s number of 18,704.
Laguaña noted, “GVB annually participates in major travel shows in all our source markets such as the US, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia and of course, the Philippines.”
For the tech-savvy and dynamic individuals beaming with entrepreneurial spirit, it is favorable that most of the island has state-of-the-art mobile phone services and high-speed internet. That should serve well today’s Pinoy pastimes like Instagramming and FB posting.
Also, the Ambassador program being offered at the Guam International Airport aims to service general questions from visitors who seek assistance in completing visitor arrival forms.
With interview by Edwin P. Sallan
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