“In the short run, we’re going to experience a little drop in visitor arrivals from Japan, but unless something more major happens catastrophically, we expect to return to about as normal as we can,” said Gerry Perez, Guam Visitors Bureau general manager. Perez made this assessment after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked northeastern Japan last Friday, which spawned a ferocious tsunami with 33-foot waves, obliterating entire towns and farmlands.
Perez said about 2.8 percent of visitors from Japan annually come from Sendai, the area that was most devastated by the catastrophic events.
Although Perez predicted a possible slight drop in Japanese tourism arrivals, he said this could be offset by “robust” visitor arrivals from Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
“Japan’s Narita International Airport is operating on a restricted basis so there will be some cutback in flights, but overall things should, not necessarily turn to normal, because nothing could ever be normal again, but we don’t expect a long lasting effect on our tourism,” Perez said.
“Of course, if something significant happens with the current nuclear reactor problems in Japan, this might alter our outlook,” Perez added.
Stranded
Meanwhile efforts are underway to accommodate passengers who are left stranded on Guam as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
After last Friday’s devastation in Japan, local authorities on Guam immediately initiated efforts to not only ensure the safety of Japanese tourists, but their accommodations as well.
About 1,500 passengers were stranded on Guam, said Mary Torres, Guam International Airport Authority executive director, including about 400 passengers whose flights were diverted to Guam while en route to Japan.
“It caused travel agents and airlines to work feverishly to try and accommodate them in hotels. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to accommodate everyone,” said Torres, adding that the 400 passengers diverted to Guam ended up staying overnight at the Guam terminal.
Torres said all other flights not affected by the tragedies in Japan carried on as scheduled.
“I thought things went exceptionally well, given that we had passengers who were reacting to a disaster at home, so there’s always that element of concern,” she said, adding that other tourism vendors stayed open late to assist with the stranded passengers.
GHRA
Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association President Mary Torre also shared the efforts that were made on GHRA’s part to ensure accommodations were made for stranded Japanese tourists.
Although she stated that not all tourists and passengers could be accommodated because hotels were inundated and fully booked, she said some hotels opened up ballrooms to accommodate additional tourists.
