Information Sent to Key U.S. Cabinet Officials

by Sabrina Salas Matanane

PRESS RELEASE - New & Compelling Information Sent to Key U.S. Cabinet Officials

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 16, 2011

  

There are good reasons for the U.S. Homeland Security and Defense departments to allow Chinese and Russian tourists to vacation on Guam. Governor's Chief Policy Advisor Arthur Clark sent compelling new research he generated, with the assistance of Guam Visitors Bureau, to the two U.S. agencies. Here are highlights of the research's conclusions if the program is allowed (using conservative projections):

  

"I hope the U.S. government sees the tremendous opportunity here to reduce its trade deficit with China by billions of dollars," Governor Eddie Baza Calvo said. "We are providing the federal government with reasons they can't ignore. Like I told officials in July, allow Guam to be more financially self-reliant. We can do this. All the economic activity from Chinese and Russian tourists will mean thousands more jobs and a lot more for our people."

  

Clark sent this research with a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs Betsy Markey and Assistant Secretary of Defense Paul Stockton. The details of this research and how Clark arrived at the conservative conclusions referenced above are attached. To be clear, the data Clark presented is based on actual data and real trends. He based the conclusions off the most conservative benchmarks, which means there is high likelihood a visa waiver program with China and Russia will bring even greater economic benefits than what is listed above.

  

"We believe that if China and Russia are allowed to participate in the Guam-CNMI VWP, the number of visitors is likely to be higher than projected in these charts," Clark wrote to the assistant secretaries.

  

Clark also provided a recently-published report by the U.S. Travel Organization. "Particular to China, it notes that the visa wait time can be as long as 120 days. The report outlines the huge benefits to the U.S. economy that will occur if VWP is extended to China, among other nations," Clark wrote.

  

Clark also notes that Continental Airlines and United Airlines promised to "actively consider options for providing non-stop service on a consistent basis" to China and Russia if the visa waiver status is given. The airline industry is poised to develop these explosive markets should the U.S. government relieve the travel restrictions.