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As a US territory, I have often wondered why the United States does not promote Guam (and Puerto Rico as well) more than it does. It looks like some of the big luxury hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, W, etc, would buy properties in Guam and set up shops and turn Guam into a popular tourist destination. As far as distance goes, when you're talking large numbers of miles, 7200 miles to Guam (from Austin) is not all that much further than 3700 miles to Honolulu (from Austin). And it's closer than Sydney, Australia (8400 miles from Austin) and large numbers of people fly back and forth between the United States and Australia every day of the year, so I'm not buying the "Guam is too far" side of argument.
1) Those hotel chains are already on Guam. Guam has a host of luxurious 5 star hotels and lower end hotels, to include Dusit Thani Guam Resort, Hyatt Regency Guam, Lotte Hotel Guam, The Westin Resort Guam, Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, The Tsubaki Tower, Hotel Nikki, etc. According to a Google search I did, Guam appears to have 123 hotels on the island with over 9,200 hotel rooms in total. In 2019, Guam welcomed more than 1.6 million tourists, an impressive feat for an island with roughly 173k inhabitants. https://www.dewittguam.com/guam-tourism-industry/
Still, fundamentally, does the U.S. generally single out specific states for promotion for tourism purposes? I know that states/territories have their own marketing campaigns, but I'm curious to know if the federal government goes about things in the same way.
I lived in Korea and was fortunate to be able to visit Guam a few times. Travel from East Asia to Guam is simple and reasonably priced, and it is a treat to be able to experience a bit of the U.S. without having to travel back to the mainland. The weather and beaches are great and travel around the island is convenient. As others have mentioned though the cost and time required to get to Guam from the U.S. mainland are prohibitive, making it unlikely for Guam ever to be marketed within the U.S. mainland as a tourist destination.
I wouldn't say ever. Never know what improvements to air travel might happen soon making going to places as Guam from NYC very doable for most people.
The thing that made possible mass tourism in the Caribbean was the invention of the jet engine and further improvements. Without that, it's highly unlikely it would had developed.
It used to take weeks to cross the Atlantic. Anyone that doubt that, ask Columbus. lol
Hafa Adai, there is a legend that if you ever visit Guam, it will always be your second home in your heart. I lived there for a year and absolutely love the island!
Guam is a huge tourist draw for Japanese and Korean tourists as well as a military base.
In terms of luxury offerings, it's a bit underwhelming compared to other major tourist hubs (like Hawaii). Not too much to do on Guam proper if you're not into lazying on the beach. A lot of sleazy strip clubs and marginal restaurants that service the US military.
Last time I was there (July 2023), it was still recovering from the typhoon that struck it earlier. A lot of downed trees and flooding damage at the hotels that they were in process of fixing.
Guam is a huge tourist draw for Japanese and Korean tourists as well as a military base.
In terms of luxury offerings, it's a bit underwhelming compared to other major tourist hubs (like Hawaii). Not too much to do on Guam proper if you're not into lazying on the beach. A lot of sleazy strip clubs and marginal restaurants that service the US military.
Last time I was there (July 2023), it was still recovering from the typhoon that struck it earlier. A lot of downed trees and flooding damage at the hotels that they were in process of fixing.
The water is gorgeous though.
When you wrote about the food scene (which I've always enjoyed while on Guam), I immediately went to search for the Rotten Apple, which was among my favorite places to eat on Guam. Sadly, they've now permanently closed, which seems to have taken place a few years ago so my guess is due to the pandemic.
But there are quite a few fine dining restaurants and more humble establishments alike on Guam. Does it compare to Hawaii? Well, not to Hawaii as a whole certainly, but population-wise Guam is most similar to the Big Island. From my admittedly basic research, Guam probably holds its own when it comes to dining compared to the Big Island.
...Still, fundamentally, does the U.S. generally single out specific states for promotion for tourism purposes? I know that states/territories have their own marketing campaigns, but I'm curious to know if the federal government goes about things in the same way.
I don't think I've ever seen the US government directly promote individual states and territories. States/territories do their own marketing. Some of that marketing is either regionally or demographically targeted. I see more ads about Puerto Rico on the East Coast than I do on the west coast. I see more ads about Hawaii and Alaska on the West Coast. Some states/territories do a lot of marketing. Others, not so much.
When I tell people I visit Puerto Rico, they some times say, "What's it like in Costa Rica?" Or, "Do you need a passport to go there?"
I don't think I've ever seen the US government directly promote individual states and territories. States/territories do their own marketing. Some of that marketing is either regionally or demographically targeted. I see more ads about Puerto Rico on the East Coast than I do on the west coast. I see more ads about Hawaii and Alaska on the West Coast. Some states/territories do a lot of marketing. Others, not so much.
When I tell people I visit Puerto Rico, they some times say, "What's it like in Costa Rica?" Or, "Do you need a passport to go there?"
A long time ago I had a coworker that said to me "Puerto Ricans can come here whenever they want" implying that there was something wrong with that. I simply gave her the "are you serious" look. lol
To be fair, I don't think she said that in a mean way or to degrade Puerto Ricans. She did said to me prior to saying that "I have been to Puerto Rico and it's a beautiful island. I don't know why they leave their island." Ah, ignorance is bliss, but she was right on one thing: Puerto Rico is beautiful.
I have a feeling she would had said the same if she had gone to Guam and then see many Guam people living in her town.
For some reason, it didn't occured to me to see Guam in Google Maps. Obviously, Google Maps doesn't show places exactly as they are as somethings don't translate well from real life to 2D, which is basically what things look like in Google Maps. However, that's the closest thing.
It kind of seems to me similar to Puerto Rico, even the Miami, Florida area; but not entirely.
I've been to Guam before,and it's like a cross-mix between Hawaii and Puerto Rico,but less populated,smaller and the island has no freeways and life there is at a slower pace.
Most people on the U.S Mainland don't know about Guam,because most Mainland Americans don't give much attention to the U.S territories,and Guam is over 5,000 miles away from the U.S West Coast.
Guam is closer to Asia,which is why it's more of a tourist destination for Asians,but those who do visit the island usually have family/friends who live there or are in the U.S Military and are stationed there,or sometimes stopover in Guam on their way to Asia or Australia.
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