In March 2020, Guam’s tourism came to a halt due to the COVID pandemic. Travel restrictions in key markets like Japan and Korea were not fully lifted until October 2022. Just as recovery began, Super Typhoon Mawar struck in May 2023, followed by the yen reaching a 34-year low, making Guam expensive for visitors. Businesses have closed, thousands of jobs lost, and the economic impact has been staggering, marking four years of hardship.

In response — and with appreciation to Governor Lou Leon Guerrero whose leadership is driving the recovery — Guam tourism executives published the first draft of the “Guam Tourism Situation Report and Recovery Plan” in October 2024. This document lays the foundation for a collaborative recovery strategy to be developed by the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) in partnership with the private sector and overseen by the GVB Board.