Guam tourism is watching, waiting
Island reassures visitors, many of them from South Korea, but the mood is mixed
The escalation in threats from North Korea appears to be having a mixed effect on South Korean tourism to Guam.
The island gets about 1.3 million tourists a year, primarily from Asia. Surging arrivals from South Korea this year have made the country Guam’s main visitor market, surpassing Japan. For July, Guam saw 61,097 visitors from South Korea.
In a statement Wednesday, Guam Visitors Bureau President and CEO Jon Denight assured travelers that Guam was “a safe and protected island destination” and noted a record number of visitors this year.
After speaking to the Rotary Club of Guam monthly meeting Thursday, Alupang Residence President Tae S. Oh said there was little evidence that South Korean tourists were scared off by the threat.
“I know for a fact that there haven’t been any cancellations, but ... we have received some concerned messages,” Oh said.
After years of living in North Korea’s shadow, Oh said, he believes the average South Korean tourist isn’t so easily startled.
“I think they have become ac- customed to it after so many years,” Oh said. “I think they are almost numb to the threat from North Korea. So why not still travel?”
John S. Ko, president of tourism company NET Enterprises, described a different scenario.
“We shouldn’t be worried, but according to our reservation system online, (there have been) many cancellations,” Ko said.
“I think we are OK. We are blessed that we’re on American soil and we have the strongest military in the world.”
Ko said his staff in Seoul told him people in South Korea appear to be less worried about the threat.
“Right now Koreans are not worried about Guam,” Ko said.
Ko said he’s more concerned that President Trump will take action before North Korea does, which he fears will prompt China and Russia to get involved.
No matter who acts first, Ko said, he believes Guam’s tourism-dependent economy will be gutted if military action is taken, and Japanese tourists will abandon Guam entirely if any bombs are dropped in the region.
“It doesn’t matter who pulls the trigger first,” Ko said. “If a bomb is dropped, ports and airports are the first to shut down. Economically, Guam will be finished.”