Tourism in Guam, Hagåtña, Oceania

In 1967, 109 passengers traveled from Haneda, Japan, to explore Guam, which at the time was a newly discovered exotic island.[dubious – discuss] Since then, Guam has grown into a major tourism hub for primarily Japanese travelers. The island's tourist district, Tumon, features more than 20 large hotels, a Duty-Free Shoppers Galleria, a shopping and nightlife district dubbed Pleasure Island, an indoor aquarium, Sandcastle Las Vegas-style shows and other entertainment venues.

The true beauty of Guam, however, can be found far beyond the bustling streets of downtown Tumon. Nature lovers are drawn to the island because of its unspoiled landscape – above and below sea level. From Ritidian Point, a former military area transformed into the Guam National Wildlife Refuge to preserve indigenous animals and plant life, to Inajaran village, a thriving example of Spanish-influenced endemic Chamorro culture from the island's past, visitors are bound to see sites they will not soon forget.

Many tourists and locals meet at Chamorro Village (I Sengsong Chamorro) each Wednesday and Friday night for food, music, arts and crafts. Centrally located along Hagatna Bay, the night market offers a chance to enjoy authentic local cuisine like seafood, fried chicken, pancit and barbecued ribs, and purchase handmade items. A main hall is used for shows featuring local talent and dancing, while an outside stage often hosts cultural dances. The event, traditionally held only on Wednesday nights, expanded to Friday nights in October 2009.

Newcomers to Guam are often attracted to historic World War II battle grounds and forts, including Fort Santa Agueda (better known as Fort Apugan), which overlooks the capital city of Hagatna, to South Pacific Memorial Park, a peaceful green space dedicated to the millions of locals, Japanese and American soldiers, who died in the Pacific War between 1941 to 1945.

The island's capital of Hagatna is dotted with remnants of the great Pacific war, along with influences of early Spanish culture, including Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica, the center of Catholic faith on Guam. Popular among tourists and widely used by the local population, the cathedral sits atop the site of the first Catholic Church built by Padre San Vitores in 1669.

"The Basilica" is just one stop on the new Heritage Walking Trail, a 2.5-mile trek that winds through 17 historic sites in Guam's capital district. Spearheaded by the island's Department of Parks & Recreation and funded by a grant obtained from the U.S. Department of Interior, the walking trail is expected for full completion in March 2010. Government officials and community leaders have envisioned the trail as a way to help tourists discover the historic capital city, which is currently undergoing a massive revitalization.

Historic sites in Guam are not just found above sea level, however. Many have been discovered in the island's surrounding waters, which saw action in World Wars I and II. The SMS Cormoran, a German cruiser that rests in more than 100 feet of water, was scuttled in Apra Harbor by her captain in 1917, when the United States first entered World War I. Another 8,300-ton Japanese passenger-cargo ship, the Tokai Maru, sunk by the U.S. submarine Flying Fish in World War II, lies on its port side next to the Cormoran, offering divers the unique opportunity of simultaneously touching two wrecks from two World Wars.

Water sports are arguably considered Guam's finest offering. With thriving coral reefs and clear blue waters, lovers of the ocean find solace in everything from kite boarding and deep-sea fishing to scuba diving. Located at the edge of the Marianas Trench, Guam is renowned for its vivid turquoise lagoons, deep-sea currents and water clarity. Between December and May, visibility is as much as 150 feet, and the average water temperature is a warm 85°F (27°C) year-round.

The mild climate also makes Guam ideal for many other outdoor activities, including jungle hiking – or as locals call it – "boonie stomping." Although much of the island's land is privately owned, the Department of Parks & Recreation publicizes several areas suitable to hike. The Guam Boonie Stompers, a local group that hosts guided hikes each weekend, also takes willing adventurers to out-of-the-way, seldom seen areas.

Traveling to Guam is a relatively short flight from Asia or Australia compared to Hawaii, and has luxury-class hotels and seven public golf courses accommodating more than 1 million tourists each year. Although 80 percent of the island's visitors are Japanese, Guam receives a sizable number of tourists from South Korea, the United States, the Philippines and Taiwan.

In an effort to increase the number of visitors the island receives annually, local organizations have made efforts to ease visa regulations for travelers. In 2009, an interim ruling was imposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to ease travel among People's Republic of China, the Russia Federation and the CNMI. Local authorities believe there is a strategic need to develop a similar program with China, which Guam hopes to cultivate as a new market. Failing that, local authorities would like to at least pursue an expedited visa granting system, according to the Economic Forecast, 2009 Guam-CNMI Edition published by First Hawaiian Bank.

Other efforts aimed at increasing tourism in a struggling economic market include measures by national airlines like Continental Micronesia, which has an Asia-Pacific hub on Guam. Continental recently reinstated nonstop flights to Hong Kong.