In a letter to David Bice, Joint Guam Program Office director, Cruz listed the many concerns raised in the draft environmental impact statement that received no responses in the final environmental impact statement.
“I submitted 18 comments with respect to the impacts of your proposed actions on tourism. I note that there were virtually no changes made [in the final impact study],” Cruz wrote.
Some of the concerns raised were that there would be an increase in traffic that would impact bus operations; Apra Harbor’s continued viability as an attraction for scuba diving and submarine tours could be degraded; the need for Department of Defense to support the visa waiver program for China and Russia; and Guam’s image as a tourist destination that could be impacted because of the military buildup.
Cruz noted that data gathered through interviews with industry members were inadequate given the size of Guam’s tourism industry. He also noted that the final report lacked any information on how the hotel occupancy tax would be impacted.
“Visitor arrivals and the corresponding level of hotel occupancy tax revenues are important indicators of Guam’s overall economy,” Cruz said. “It is alarming that the FEIS can dedicate an entire volume (approximately 700 pages) to Guam’s economy without a substantial analysis on tourism.”
The vice speaker also noted that the study failed to acknowledge the likely decline in visitor arrivals because of increased construction and military presence. The response given, he noted, was that such losses would be negated with increased visits from members of the military who are tourists.
“Nothing, I repeat, nothing, in the FEIS presents any evidence to substantiate this claim,” he said.
Maj. Neil Ruggiero, spokesman for JGPO, said Bice is still reviewing the letter and will respond at a later date.
