GVB defends $50K in public funds spent on trips; new bill for board oversight

Lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at tightening oversight of travel spending at the Guam Visitors Bureau following concerns about how public tourism funds are used. In question are over $50,000 spent on a pair of trips last October that the agency defends, saying, “If Guam is not in the room, Guam is not in the itinerary.”

Two trips last October costing just over $50,000 in public tourism funds is raising concerns and prompting action from lawmakers.  Senators Jesse Lujan and Chris Duenas introduced Bill 279, which would require all official travel by the Guam Visitors Bureau to be reviewed and approved by the board, before any public funds are spent. 

In prepared remarks for a joint oversight hearing scheduled for Monday – which was tabled when airport talks ran long – Lujan says his measure comes after reviewing travel expenses and hearing concerns from GVB board members.

He addressed those concerns during an interview with "The Point" the following day, saying, "In the last GVB board meeting, we asked the board chairman (George) Chiu and the board members what they wanted. They wanted a change in governance and control of expenditures in regards to travel."

Lujan pointed to GVB's attendance at IMEX America in Las Vegas and ITB Asia– some $30,000 and $20,000, respectively. 

"The IMEX is mostly catered to North America and European visitors– European conventions and things of that nature," he stated. "This is not our market. We hope one day soon, that’s why we’re trying to get an exemption of cabotage and all that to be able to have that. We would love to have that market, but we don’t."

He acknowledged the costs included booth fees and materials, but said the expenses raised questions about oversight when public funds are tight. "I mean, it’s great to be there, you know [if] we have a lot of money flowing and things like that. It’s great to be there. But we don’t. The hospital is in shambles, the schools, the roads and things of that nature," he said.

GVB responded to KUAM, defending its travel programs and warning that restrictions could hurt Guam’s ability to compete for visitors and industry partnerships.

In a statement, GVB says “Events such as IMEX America are not ceremonial gatherings,” but structured business marketplaces where “destinations meet the decision-makers.” 

The bureau says those meetings are tied to measurable outcomes from bookings to high-spending visitors. GVB also says its travel spending is already operated through appropriated budgets, procurement law, board– approved plans, audits and performance metrics. GVB warns “Guam cannot market itself from behind a desk.”

In the meantime, GVB's joint oversight hearing resumes next Tuesday at 2pm.