By Troy Torres
Former Gov. Carl Gutierrez, Guam's tourism chief, has a vision for tourism undeterred by the escalating tensions between the Koreas.
"We're expecting to welcome flights from (South) Korea July 1 or July 2, and if those tourists don't have problems with quarantine going back home, then we'll see the market pick up," Gov. Gutierrez told Kandit in a sit down interview with him in his office at the Guam Visitors Bureau.
Gov. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of GVB and the chairman of the governor's Economic Strategy Council. He also is chief advisor to the governor for economic development, national and international affairs.
"In my experience, these things come and go, and they won't have an effect on tourists wanting to come from South Korea," he said when asked whether he's concerned about the current events between Pyongyang and Seoul affecting his vision for tourism.
The experience he speaks of is extensive. He was the two-term governor of Guam, who led the disaster recovery effort in the wake of the crash of Korean Airlines Flight 801, literally from the trenches. He also served during the transition between North Korea's founder Kim Il-sung to his son, Kim Jong-il, when the world first experienced rising tensions from the bellicose that has since come from the three power transitions in the communist country.
Gov. Gutierrez's plans for tourism reach beyond Korea, though. He wants his agency to market further to Taiwan's 23 million people, and he believes there is hope for efforts to secure a Guam-only visa waiver with the Philippines from the United States government.
"There is untapped potential there," he said, referring to the Taiwan visa waiver, a waiver secured during his time as the governor. His successors concentrated their outreach on Japan and South Korea, and fought without success for an opening to the Chinese tourist market.
Former Gov. Felix Camacho tried to secure a visa program for Philippine tourists before the Bush administration left office, then had to deal with the Obama administration's reticence to the proposed policy. Former Gov. Eddie Calvo all but abandoned the effort, having served most of his two terms alongside the majority of the Obama years.
Gov. Gutierrez believes things are different with the Trump administration, and has curried a relationship with the White House.
"I believe we can see something next year," he said confidently.
Carl T.C.’s retirement scam, by which he obtained service credit for his time as Governor, augments his ongoing receipt of retirement benefits from the Retirement Fund by $33,458 per year. It has always been, and continues to be, illegal. It violates 2 GCA 1120(b), read in light of 1 GCA 720, because Carl had started collecting benefits (based on his legislative service) before he became Governor.
(To add insult to injury, Carl T.C., even though he is back on the Government payroll and receiving a salary as the head of GVB, can continue to receive his inflated retirement benefits as well as his salary i.e. double dip, because he is a head of an autonomous agency appointed by a governing…
Times are changing! Carlito;s focus on South Korea points to the one dimensional path of fruitless failure. Their are other Asian countries. GVB should advertise to them because they have Millionaires too. W can learn what we are lacking as a Tourist spot too.
Carlito doesn't mention or has concern of Guam's Infrastructure. This benefits the Tourist and the Guam Public too.
The 'what if' question never discussed!Carlito's past experience reflects the past World dynamics. That's another 'what if.'
What about COVID19 & other diseases such as flu? What proven methods will be used by those at the airport?