By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE Guam Visitors Bureau recently hosted the inaugural meeting of the Korea Guam Marketing Committee, or KGMC, to improve tourism numbers in Guam from Korea.
The newly formed committee, comprised of managers from Korea’s top travel agencies, airlines, and related companies, was introduced by GVB at the January 2007 meeting of the Korea Guam Tourism Council, or KGTC.
KGMC will be the working committee of its parent organization, KGTC, which is composed exclusively of upper level managers from the Korean tourism industry.
The strategy for the first KGMC meeting, attended by members of the KGMC, GVB, and GVB Korea, was to solidify relations with GVB and to present its proposals for developing and increasing the volume of traffic by Korean visitors to Guam.
Jin-Kyu Park of Redcap Tour has been elected as chairman of KGMC with Keum-Ja Choi from Online Tour as vice chairman.
The meeting also included discussions on methods to improve cooperation among both Korean and Guam-based businesses within the visitor industry.
“Even though there has been a trend of contraction in Guam vacation among people, we plan to develop various activities to boost travel to Guam with stronger support from and close cooperation among Guam Visitors Bureau, air carriers and travel agencies,” Jin-Kyu Park said.
GVB general manager Gerald S.A. Perez agreed and said he is happy that the Guam Visitors Bureau will strengthen its partnership with tour agents and airlines through the KGMC, which will help raise awareness of Guam and develop attractive travel packages by collaboratively working together and thereby increase arrivals to Guam throughout the year.
Held on Guam, the meeting allowed members to experience firsthand the new attractions, facilities, and improvements on Guam and also afforded local businesses the opportunity to introduce their products and services to KGMC members, who are now tasked to help raise awareness about Guam to Korean travelers.