According to GVB documents, if a favorable non-immigrant visa were to be decided, Guam can expect a conservative forecast of 80,000 visitors from China within a three-year period. GVB officials said that could translate into an estimated $132 million in annual income for the island.
The waiver program currently allows visitors from China and Russia to enter the CNMI. However, Guam is still not included, which makes it more difficult for GVB officials to tap into emerging tourist markets.
GVB deputy general manager Ernie Galito said while Japan has provided Guam with a stable source of revenue, Japanese travelers are moving on to other destinations.
“Business is good, the Japanese have been coming here for nearly 42 years,” Galito said. “But their population is contracting and they are traveling to other places besides Guam.”
Galito said the Chinese market would be a lucrative one for the island.
“For people in China, this is the closest U.S. territory,” Galito said. “The Chinese also spend more money during their vacations so allowing Chinese to come to Guam is advantageous.”
Galito said the agency is currently working on getting Guam included in the visa waiver program. He said that GVB is still waiting to hear from the Guam Department of Homeland Security.
“If the CNMI is included, you should include Guam too,” said Galito, of the current policy.
According to GVB documents, without the inclusion of China and Russia in an expanded visa waiver program, the island’s tourism revenues will shrink from $1.2 billion to $810 million annually.
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