“We have built great relationships and a greater reputation as a beautiful island destination. You can only achieve these with diligence and hard work. Our tourism industry has hit its stride and we’ve built momentum that has led from one another record-breaking month to another. My hats off to the Guam Visitors Bureau, its partners in the tourism and service industries, and the people of Guam. Together we have ensured the world knows that Guam is an amazing island with warm and welcoming people excited to share the beauty of our culture and our shores! I look forward to seeing how we cap off the year.”

—   Governor Eddie Baza Calvo    

 

Best November recorded

Guam welcomed 125,748 visitors in November 2016 to become the best November in Guam’s tourism history. It exceeds last year’s numbers by 3.3%.

The top five reasons why visitors came to Guam in November included holiday travel, wedding or honeymoon, company sponsored travel, business travel, and visiting friends and relatives.

“We are so proud of the efforts made to diversify and grow our visitor markets by the men and women of the tourism industry,” said Lt. Governor Ray Tenorio. “The Governor, our administration and myself continue to remain committed to Guam’s number one industry and welcoming our guests to visit Guam each and every year.”

Among the major markets that have had significant growth in November are Korea and the Philippines. Arrival numbers from Korea have grown 13.2%, leading to the major milestone of the 500,000th Korean visitor to Guam on December 7. Additionally, arrivals from the Philippines continue to boom with an 86.3% increase compared to November 2015.

“Tourism is constantly in a state of change, but seeing the results of the industry’s hard work to bring in more visitors and promote events and activities unique to Guam is progress in our road to achieve the goals in the Tourism 2020 strategic plan,” said GVB President and CEO Nathan Denight. “With one month left in our calendar year, I just want to thank our tourism partners and the entire community for their support of Guam’s top economic driver.”

Summary of arrivals

Guam recorded 125,748 visitors for November 2016, a 3.3% increase when compared to 2015. Total Calendar Year-to-Date arrivals also increased by 9.1%

Japan arrivals decreased by 4.5%, but arrivals from Korea continue to shine with a 13.2% increase. Efforts to improve visitor numbers in Guam’s number one market continue as GVB and its tourism partners work with travel agents and travel trade professionals to bring more Japanese visitors to Guam through signature events such as the Shop Guam e-Festival.

Other visitor markets have also shown diversification and growth. Arrivals from Taiwan grew by 3.2%, while the Philippines increased 86.3%. In addition, visitor arrivals from different markets saw a boost in arrivals, including the People’s Republic of China by 10.6%, Canada by 14.1%, CNMI by 11.6%, Hawaii by 2.7% and Vietnam by 66.7%.

Media Contact: JOSH TYQUIENGCO - Public Information Officer