HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Guam Visitors Bureau held its December meeting Thursday afternoon and questions were raised and answered concerning canceled flights and tourism, green electric scooters spotted around Guam and New Year’s drones and fireworks.
One of the concerns GVB had was Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines potentially canceling their evening flights to Guam.
“There’s some pretty bad news on Korea. Korean Air Lines is going to potentially cancel their evening flight and Asiana Airlines is looking to cancel their flight and go seasonal in Saipan. Whatever Korean Air Lines does, Asiana Airlines follows. There are some of the negative trends we see happening,” said GVB board of directors Chair George Chiu.
“If we lose any of those flights, it will be very difficult to get them back. We need seat capacity. The other carriers (are) flying seasonal, and it’s the worst thing Guam can have. We need year-round flights.”
In addition, with Chinese New Year around the corner, a huge military exercise will be happening in February 2024.
“They’re going to be fighting for hotels. We’re going to say, ‘Guam doesn’t have enough hotel rooms because we have Chinese New Year and the military exercise and people can’t get rooms.’ And then there’s comments that’s going to come out saying, ‘Guam needs more hotel rooms,’ which is not really true,” said Chiu.
“We always have exercises four times a year. It’s been consistent pre-COVID with the buildup. It’s always going to be in February and entered close in the new year. We tried to coordinate, but these are done 18 to 24 months out in advance. So, our ability to impact those military exercises for the next year, that window is closed,” said Mary Rhodes, a director appointed by the Legislature.
A suggested solution was to include GVB in those conversations with the military and Congress, Rhodes said.
‘Public hazard’
Rhodes brought another concern to the table, as many inquiries have been brought up regarding green e-scooters, located throughout Tumon, Tamuning and Dededo.
GVB is working with the Guam Police Department to identify the management company putting out the green e-scooters on public areas and private property, as well as impounding the scooters.
“I don’t think those e-scooters are permitted, they are certainly not contracted with any of those properties. The concern is that people are putting it on areas such as sidewalks, roads, driveways (and) access roads,” said Rhodes.
On the other hand, the orange and black e-scooters, under the Gu-yoyo brand, that are stationed at Hotel Nikko Guam, are permitted and licensed, she said.
“For the green e-scooters, they have not been able to identify any licensing of those scooters or any contracts. They’re putting it on public easement to try to get away with it,” said Rhodes.
GVB Vice President Gerald Perez confirmed with the Department of Revenue and Taxation that there is a business license for the e-scooters.
“The issue isn’t about whether the e-scooters are licensed or not, the issue is being properly distributed and used. They’re all over the place, it’s a public hazard,” said Perez.
Chiu acknowledged the concern as a public hazard.
Fireworks and drone show
Two sets of 15-minute fireworks shows will be held simultaneously on New Year’s Day. The fireworks will be just after midnight Jan. 1, 2024, in Hagåtña, launching from the Hagåtña treatment plant and in Tumon at Ypao Beach. Drone show time is to be announced and is expected to run for nine minutes.
Chair George Chiu speaks during the Guam Visitors Bureau board of directors monthly meeting at the GVB headquarters in Tumon on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.
