Guam Tourism Arrivals Fall Short of Projections for Fiscal Year 2024

Guam’s Tourism Industry Struggles to Reach Pre-Pandemic Levels

Arrivals to Guam in fiscal year 2024 have reached 701,484, representing 47% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels, according to data from the Guam Visitors Bureau. While this is a significant improvement from the low of 61,607 arrivals in fiscal year 2021, it falls short of initial projections of 900,000 to 1 million for the entire fiscal year.

Most of the arrivals are from Korea and Japan, and it is estimated that the total number for fiscal year 2024 could end up at about 765,000. This is still far below Guam’s record-breaking annual arrivals of more than 1 million before the pandemic.

Despite the increase in arrivals, Guam’s tourism industry is still struggling to fully recover. The budget for the Guam Visitors Bureau for fiscal year 2025 has reached a record high of nearly $29 million, indicating a commitment to boosting tourism on the island.

GVB management has cited Guam’s uncompetitive pricing as a factor hindering the recovery of the tourism industry. Federal funds and military buildup-related costs have been crucial in keeping the economy afloat during this challenging time.

While the road to full recovery may be long, Guam remains optimistic about the future of its tourism industry. Stay tuned for more updates on arrival numbers and the efforts to revitalize Guam’s tourism sector.