Guam seeks visa waiver for Philippine travelers, spotlights island for Malaysia
Guam is stepping up its regional tourism efforts by supporting a visa waiver for the Philippines and hosting Malaysian travel media to promote the island as a destination.
On July 11, Guam’s delegate to Congress, James C. Moylan wrote a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requesting that the Philippines be included in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program.
“I believe that the Philippines meets the key security and immigration standards of the program and would be a valuable addition that strengthens diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between our nations,” Moylan wrote.
This marks Moylan’s second effort to add the Philippines to the program, the first having occurred in 2024.
He said that Guam has an important role in the region as the “gateway to America”. The island is a strategic location for the Department of Defense, often referred to as the tip of the spear for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, Moylan says that Guam is many Asian traveler’s “first impression” of the U.S.
Régine Biscoe Lee, president and CEO of the Guam Visitors Bureau, said that including the Philippines in the program would strengthen cultural connections between the country and Guam while removing economic and travel barriers.
According to recent arrival statistics from GVB, the Philippines is Guam’s fourth-largest source of visitor arrivals, following the U.S., Japan, and Korea.
In May, 1,267 travelers arrived from the Philippines which marks a 28.2% increase from the year prior.
GVB is also focussing its sights on Malaysia through a familiarization tour hosted from June 25 to June 28.
Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country located just southwest of the Philippines, is home to more than 34 million people and is one of the countries listed in the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program, allowing for visa-free entry into the island, GVB said.
The tour hosted 24 Malaysian travel agents and 14 media representatives to showcase Guam’s diverse offerings and to highlight how convenient and accessible Guam is for Malaysian travelers. GVB said in a statement that Malaysia has a strong partnership with Philippine Airlines.
Malaysia travel agents, airline representatives, and media toured Guam as part of GVB’s FAM tour. Photo courtesy GVB
Lee said in a July 14 statement that the tour marks a significant step forward in reaching new markets and reinforcing Guam’s position as a destination for international travelers.
According to a report published by the Tourist Development Corporation of Malaysia, 69% of Malaysians planned to take vacations abroad, albeit regionally, in 2024. Popular destinations included Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea.
Guam is seeing a slight interest from Malaysian travelers, with 33 being recorded by GVB in May. Last year, eight visitors from Malaysia visited the island. mbj
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