The Manila Times

Influx of Filipino tourists rises in Guam

- BY YUGEL LOSORATA

THE island of Guam has been attracting several Filipino tourists most notably in the past few years, having gained a surge in the number of visitors coming in from here.

- a strong performanc­e from the Philippine market last year, with 19,818 visitors during the period ofOctober 1 to 30. That translates to a roughly a six percent increase compared to the previous year’s number of 18,704.

The Philippine Market Seasonalit­y for the 2012- 2017 calendar also shows such increase particular­ly in the last two years.

The ascent in tourist turnout is brought about by airfare promos and the emergence of social media as a viable tool in sharing experience­s, especially from places accessible to backpacker­s and caravans.

latest campaign that embraces social media and proximity as recently held a media launch to promote InstaGuam, the newest campaign highlighti­ng the place

The campaign’s objective primarily intends to utilize the power of Social Networking Sites ( SNS) in promoting the island through user- generated content. In toe with that idea is the strong message that Guam is easy effort as a vacation destinatio­n.

- ña. She explained, “Our three main carriers, United Airlines, - lines, offer direct services from the Philippine­s to Guam. They made access to Guam very con

Must- do stuff in Guam includes a hike to Pagat Point, a visit to Chamorro villages for some coconut crab, reaching the Latte of Freedom, staying at the Alupang Island, and experienci­ng a handful of dive shops of romantic wrecks and reefs. record- setting dive to the Challenger Deep was nearby Guam.

It is said that most of the island has state- of- the- art mobile phone services and high- speed internet, making favorite modern Pinoy pastimes like instagramm­ing and

the InstaGuam launch, won the the biggest Travel Tour Expo in the Center. The Expo is estimated to have attracted 125,000 visitors.

Visitors clearly took notice of including the photobooth, dice game and VR room “where they Chamorro cultural performanc­es were also highly applauded.

- bers from Guam participat­ed in the Internatio­nal Travel Tour and Spa, DFS, PHR Ken Micronesia, Inc. ( Hilton and Sheraton), Guam Reef and Olive Spa, PacTours, Tumon Sands Plaza and

The three- day Expo was “a great kick- off to the InstaGuam Cam - stant Guam experience partnered by the promotiona­l airfares and

An interestin­g bit on Guam’s location has to do with its frequently used territoria­l motto that goes, “Where America’s Day the island’s close proximity to the internatio­nal date line but also to its being a US territory.

 ?? AFP PHOTO ?? Tourists walking past an ‘ I love Guam’ sign in Guam
AFP PHOTO Tourists walking past an ‘ I love Guam’ sign in Guam
 ?? CHART FROM GUAM VISITORS BUREAU ?? Influx of Filipino tourists in Guam since 2012
CHART FROM GUAM VISITORS BUREAU Influx of Filipino tourists in Guam since 2012

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines