NOTE: This is a joint release from Governor Eddie Baza Calvo and the Guam Visitors Bureau.
“It is amazing to see the results that are produced from all the hard work to grow and diversify visitor arrivals to Guam. I applaud the Guam Visitors Bureau, its partners, and the men and women who who are part of the tourism industry for their efforts. Our economy continues to thrive and I am confident we will reach the goals of the Tourism 2020 plan.”
— Governor Eddie Baza Calvo
Top October recorded in Guam’s history
The Guam Visitors Bureau Research Department confirmed 112,292 visitors were recorded in October 2015, making it the best October in the history of tourism. Additionally, October 2015 also became the third top month for Korea arrivals, totaling 37,306 visitors.
The boost in Korea arrivals can be associated with the increased seat capacity from Incheon and more direct flights through Air Busan. T’Way Air’s new service to Guam also contributed to the boost in Guam’s arrivals numbers.
“The momentum we are experiencing with record breaking visitor arrivals these past five years is phenomenal,” said GVB General Manager Nathan Denight.
“As we remain focused on the Tourism 2020 plan and invest into the community, now is the opportune time to also reinvest in our tourism product and infrastructure. We just celebrated the opening of the Guam Convention Center at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort and we look forward to utilizing this world-class facility and other resources to attract more visitors to experience what can be found only on Guam.”
Japan arrivals
Guam received 4.3% less visitors from Japan in October. While arrivals from Guam’s top market are showing signs of stabilization, total outbound from Japan remains down due to a weakening yen and Japanese travelers choosing domestic travel. GVB continues to work with travel agents and push its recently launched “Toshi-chan” campaign in Japan to attract more Japanese travelers.
Summary of arrivals
Guam welcomed 112,292 visitors in October 2015, an 8% increase when compared to the previous year. Total Calendar Year-to-Date arrivals have also increased by 3.4%.
Korea arrivals showed an increase of 52.7%, while visitor numbers from Japan saw a slight drop. The People’s Republic of China also rose by 21.1%. In the meantime, other visitor markets continue to grow and diversify. Palau increased by 141.3% and the FSM increased by 13.9%. Additional markets that also grew include Philippines by 2.5%, Europe by 31.3% and Canada by 4.8%.
Top 10 October Guam Arrivals
October 2015 Preliminary Arrival Summary
*The preliminary October 2015 report and top 10 October arrivals chart are attached for your reference and use.