The return of the visitor industry is not coming fast enough for many businesses, who still require some financial life support in order to survive. A tourism summit was held today where they laid out the numbers that back the need for more government assistance and collaboration.

The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Guam Tourism and Travel Association sponsored the forum to share their perspective on the state of the local visitor industry. GHRA president Mary Rhodes said, "I think that its really important that everybody understand why it looks busy, but it may not be generating the same kind of revenues we were hoping to have because our leisure traveler really presents a total different mix of things, from their type of stays to their type of spend."

She quotes statistics that show an 83% decline in overall business since pre-pandemic 2019. Which is actually 92%, if you take out military business. For one, they're seeking is a new local employer assistance program. But GEDA president Melanie Mendiola, who also spoke at the fourm, said the leap program served its purpose of keeping workers employed during the height of the pandemic.

But as businesses rebound, most no longer qualify. Rhodes counters there's enough that will, saying, "There are 113 businesses that would still qualify, and thats about $36 million that if we were to roll out designed today, where you still have 50% percent loss, its still $36 million that could be guaranteed by GEDA to give out to our private sector stakeholders."

GEDA's Mendiola said she's willing to hear them out, but for now remains uncommitted.

Meanwhile, GTTA chairperson Jovyna Lujan says they're also seeking stronger partnerships with government agencies such as GEDA and GVB, in order to raise the target for visitor arrivals by several hundred thousand. "This industry was built by the private sector and that's where our confidence remains," she said.

"Best ideas can be laid on the table to find meaningful solutions to leverage this million arrivals in 2023 that we are after," she said.

Rhodes says while GVB has a budget this year of $18 million, the private sector collectively spends millions more on their own marketing. She says they need to combine efforts, noting, "Really as private sector stakeholder industry, we rather just work together and come up with that cohesive message that through our collaboration and use that to also market and promote Guam with the same kind of branding."