A Jeju Air aircraft comes in for a landing at the Guam International Airport in Tiyan.
Photo by David Castro/The Guam Daily Post
HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Guam Visitors Bureau is experiencing a significant rebound in Korean airline capacity with potentially 1,000 additional seats per day expected within a month, GVB Board Chairman George Chiu reported during Thursday’s board meeting.
The chairman gave Régine Biscoe Lee, the bureau’s new president, high marks for her first 100 days in office, citing her extensive travel to key markets and successful efforts to boost airline capacity from Korea.
“The additional seats that have come on board since June 1st have been very, very successful. The first week load factor was over 90 percent,” the chairman said during the meeting. Load factor refers to the percentage of available airline seats that are filled with passengers.
Chiu credited the Korea marketing team and director Ho Eun for the success, noting that Korean Air will also be adding flights “without any” interruption “for a daily flight coming on board soon.”
“We’re still working very closely with Jin Air and Jeju Air to add additional flights,” he said.
The positive developments come after what the chairman described as “a little bit of negative publicity regarding the old news articles” about Korean seat reductions that had already been anticipated by the bureau’s marketing team.
GVB president Lee reported that Korea remains the top market for Guam tourism, with Japan increasing and slight declines in travel from the U.S., Hawaii and the Philippines. Overall, arrivals remain about 43% behind pre-Covid levels.
The chairman praised Lee’s performance during her first 100 days, which included extensive travel to origin countries including Korea, Japan, and also to Washington, D.C., and the Philippines to work on visa-waiver programs.
“Personally, I would give her a grade of an A,” Chiu said. “She’s basically been traveling and spending her time on Guam and trying to get this bureau reorganized in her image.”
Financial outlook
Despite the positive momentum in Korean air capacity, GVB faces financial challenges ahead. Chiu warned that “the tourist attraction fund will be short by $5 million” and emphasized the need for additional funding.
“We need money to keep our momentum going,” Chiu said, noting efforts to find additional funding for infrastructure through HOT bonds for destination improvement while maintaining momentum of marketing the additional airline seats.
Taiwan operations
In Taiwan, GVB conducted roadshows in three cities — Taichung, Taipei and Taoyuan — engaging over 200 travel-trade professionals. The response was so strong that organizers had to change the format from one-on-one meetings to presentations.
Eleven GVB members participated in the roadshows, reaching 55 travel agents in Taichung, 73 in Taipei, and 42 in Taoyuan.
Load factors for Taiwan flights in April and May both reached 73%, and United Airlines has extended special fare sales through September 26 for departures through December 31.
The bureau also participated in the Taipei Tourism Expo, where United Airlines promoted direct flights and sold tickets on-site. The event coincided with Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s trade mission to Taiwan, where she met with Taiwan’s president to discuss strengthening bonds between the two destinations.
Military exercise
GVB officials expressed concern about the timing of a voluntary military exercise scheduled for July 9 through August 9, which could affect the peak tourism season.
“It’s going to be full during peak season and then to have a military exercise for one month — July 9th, August 9th— just kills any chance of our tourism to rebound because there won’t be enough hotels,” one board member said.
The exercise is expected to bring 3,500 military troops to the island during what is typically a busy tourism period.
GVB asked U.S. Congressman James Moylan to see if DOD would consider rescheduling the exercise to a low season, though officials acknowledged this was unlikely.
Japan market activities
The bureau has been active in the Japan market, hosting several events including a new beach-flag competition featuring world champions and local athletes. The high-speed lifesaving sport tests reflexes and agility.
GVB also completed filming for a TV Tokyo documentary series, the first overseas series for the program. Despite initial visa challenges for the production crew, the project filmed at multiple Guam sightseeing locations.
The bureau participated in a travel expo in Osaka organized by Kansai Airport, reaching 4,500 visitors and increasing the number social media followers. United Airlines, T-Way, Baldyga Group and Dusit Hotels also exhibited at the event.
GVB continues to work on algae removal in Tumon Bay after complaints from hotel properties, with federal assistance being sought through the Department of the Interior.
As the bureau looks ahead to sustaining its recovery momentum, officials acknowledged the urgent need for additional resources.
‘We need to find some way to just generate those funds,” Chiu said. “So, we’ll be taking a closer look at the budget to see where we can squeeze out some money for marketing.”
The next board meeting is scheduled for July 24, 2025.
