GVB board reviews fiscal 2025 budget

The Guam Visitors Bureau submitted $28.9 million from the Tourist Attraction Fund.

This amount was reviewed by the GVB board of directors in its meeting on Sept. 17.

GVB Vice President, Gerald S.A. Perez, spoke to the board on Sept. 17. Photo by Skyler Obispo.

Fiscal 2025’s allocation is a 24% increase from last year with the largest leap in costs coming from destination development (increased 31% from last year).

The amount allocated for visitor safety officers, tour guides, and concierge services increased by 51% from last year. The board said that this increase was necessary to support the 24-hour concierge hotline program.

Additionally at the board meeting, two purchase orders were presented before the board for approval: one for pavement repairs between Dusit Beach Resort and Sandcastle and another for the purchase of two two-wheel drive trucks.

The board approved the purchase order for the repairs in the amount of $52,550 to JEIDA Guam.
The board tabled the $102,990 purchase order to Triple J Motors to the next meeting as they did not hold a quorum to approve the purchase.

The Industry Recovery Report for September was released on Sept. 6. According to Vice Chairman Joaquin P.L.G. Cook, the report should serve as a framework to guide GVB’s next steps in the coming months. Additionally, the board discussed the continuation of research efforts including the visitor exit survey.

In the management’s report, July saw a total of 59,931 visitors to the island.

Additionally, negotiations are still ongoing for the $1.5 million marketing deal with British football team Tottenham Hotspur.

The board also reported ongoing branding activity within the Asian markets, with a special emphasis on working with travel agents in Taiwan to include Guam in their travel packages. mbj

Panel reflects on 50 years since Operation New Life

Scholars, community leaders, veterans, and former refugees gathered at the Guam Museum Theater in Hagåtña on July 26, for a public forum marking the 50th anniversary of Operation New Life, a massive U.S. military-led evacuation effort that brought more than 110,000 Vietnamese refugees through Guam in 1975 following the fall of Saigon.