MARIANA ISLANDS RANGE COMPLEX ... - Guam Legislature

MARIANA ISLANDS RANGE COMPLEX FEIS/OEIS MAY 2010
3.17.2.4 Guam Tourism
Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) information indicates that Guam tourism generates 60 percent of the
territory’s revenue. In 2006, approximately $1.35 million was generated by tourism and 20,000 jobs were
dependent upon tourism (approximately 35 percent of the island’s employment). Japan and Korea
comprise 90 percent of Guam’s visitors. The United States contributed 4 percent, Taiwan was 2 percent,
and CNMI and Micronesia were 3 percent (GVB 2007b). In 2007 Guam welcomed approximately 1.2
million visitors (GVB 2007a).
Tumon Bay, halfway between Apra Harbor and the northern part of the island, is the premier resort
destination on Guam (GVB 2008a). Luxury hotels line the beachfront with access to white sand and
crystal clear, warm waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling (guam-online.com 2001). A few hotels are
also located in the southern and central parts of the island (GVB 2008a).
The GVB projects an increase of visitors to “integrated” resorts (theme parks, entertainment, hotels,
casinos, and conventions in one place) and wellness and medical tourism that includes spa and herbal
treatments. Student travel seeking English language tours and volunteer tourism are the coming trends
(GVB 2007b).
Guam offers water sports that include jet skiing, wind surfing, sea kayak, water tours, dolphin watching,
submarine rides, and semisubmersible rides due to deep sea currents, water clarity, and turquoise lagoons.
Diving includes photography, spear fishing, wreck and reef diving, and snorkeling (GVB 2008a).
Talofofo Falls is a waterfall located in the southern section of Guam and is located in Talofofo Falls Park.
Tourists arrive via a gondola ride and spend their time at the falls swimming and visiting the local
museum.
Bonnie stomping, or hiking through the jungle, is another activity available on Guam. Every Saturday
Guam’s Bonnie Stompers offer public hikes to a variety of sites including beaches, snorkeling sites,
waterfalls, mountains, caves, latte sites, and World War II sites (GVB 2008b).
Guam offers seven world-class golf courses designed by famous U.S. and Japanese golfers. All of
Guam’s golf courses and driving ranges are open to the public (at all skill levels) and no golf course is
more than 20 minutes away from the major hotels. The major golf courses include:
• Country Club of the Pacific
• Guam International Country Club
• Alte Guam Golf Resort
• Windward Hills Country Club
• Leo Palace Golf Resort
• Talafofo Golf Course
• Mangilao Country Club
In 2006, Guam ranked 53 out of 55 U.S. territories for registered boats. In 2006 Guam had 3,061
registered boats, an increase of 299 from 2005. The scope of registered boats in Guam is an estimate that
includes all watercraft (USCG 2006). In a 5-year summary (2002-2006) of boating accidents, the USCG
reported that Guam had 15 boating accidents. Seven of the accidents included fatalities, with two of these
in 2006; the property damage due to accidents in 2006 was $3,800 (USCG 2006).
RECREATION 3.17-9