by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - The Guam Visa Waiver Program and its influence on visitors industries in Guam and our neighboring islands will be focus of a forum hosted by the Guam Visitors Bureau on Tuesday. Public and private sector leaders will come together to provide insight on the history and current status of the visa waiver program.

The event comes just days after the Department of Homeland Security extended parole authority to Russian visitors but declined to do the same for China. GVB deputy general manager Nathan Denight says a decision in favor of allowing Chinese visitors to Guam opens up endless possibilities for Guam's tourism industry. "So we're willing to work with all parties involved to find and mitigate all national security issues," said Denight. "And I think that's why we keep wanting to have this open dialogue with the federal government and Department of Homeland Security, and that's why we continue from both the private and public sector to push for more dialogue to see how we can move this issue because it's so important for our economy."

The visa waiver forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom in Tumon tomorrow from 8 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon. For those who can't attend, Denight says the forum will be streamed live on Ustream.