Guam Visitor’s Bureau general manager Gerry Perez said changing the island’s name would help aid the bureau’s efforts to market Guam as a cultural vacation destination.
“Our cultural heritage is what makes us different from other destinations,” Perez said, adding that residents should also take an active role in portraying the Guam lifestyle to island visitors.
Some villages and cultural activists have taken the initiative to adopt the villages’ indigenous names such as Malesso for Merizo and Inarajan for Inalajan.
Historian Toni Ramirez, of the Guam Historic Preservation Office, also said changing the island’s name to Guahan could do wonders for the island’s tourism industry.
Ramirez said changing the island’s name will help residents connect to their ethnic identity which will in turn strengthen the island’s sense of culture.
Promoting the island’s culture is important to attracting visitors, said Ramirez. He added that tourists are looking to experience more cultural activities while on vacation.
“Guahan is more melodious than Guam,” added Ramirez, who said tourists are more drawn to destinations with exotic names.
Perez said there are several short-term challenges associated with the name change. Marketing promotional items will have to be changed to reflect the island’s indigenous name. However, Perez added that only English-language marketing items will have to change since Japanese translations will remain the same.
