There are some more positive signs that more Japanese tourists can start coming back. Guam Visitors Bureau and Guam International Airport officials conducted a joint marketing trip to Japan. They are back with a renewed sense of optimism.
Carl Gutierrez, president and chief executive officer of GVB, says they had great positive feedback when visiting with officials from the the large Shizuoka Prefecture region. "They're so excited that United decided to start flying twice a week again," the former governor announced. "We're going to try to bring that up to at least four flights a week like back in the heyday, because it's a big city that takes all of Kyushu and that's the hub of the southern island."
He also met with officials from Spring Airlines Japan, a low-cost carrier owned by Chinese and Japanese investors. He's encouraging them to consider direct Guam flights, instead of waiting for China to open up. Gutierrez says he was advised that they've taken the initial steps for certain FAA certifications, and he's hopeful they could start Guam service by next March.
"Korea has six or seven low-cost carriers," Gutierrez explained. "That's what's filling up our tourism here, that's how they beat Japan last time. So there are other airlines, low-cost carriers for Japan, and that's our focus right now, that's my focus at least and the airport, too. So Japan is going to start coming back like gangbusters."
His optimism was also bolstered by the return of long-suspended Japanese National Airline Service to Guam, as he noted, "So when they started flying last week Japan Airlines, and yesterday again they were here. It's giving them hope that once your government is allowing their carrier to start flying, then it gives them hope that maybe its safe to come to Guam."
But with the uptick in arrivals, there's concern on the ground about a past problem that could discourage tourists: long lines at immigration. Gutierrez says they're now monitoring this and plan to meet later this month in Washington, DC with Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Department officials.
"Once we go over there, we're going to talk about the lines moving faster," he promised.