There’s lots to do on Guam.
Guam is da bomb – as a tourist attraction.
The
US island territory at the epicentre of North Korean madman Kim Jong
Un’s nuclear threats is looking to cash in on its newfound apocalyptic
fame.
Even though Kim threatened to unleash “enveloping fire” by landing four missiles nearby, Guam officials want to allay fears of an Armageddon by touting the island’s idyllic scenery and secluded beaches.
“The circumstances are unfortunate but this is a good opportunity for us to educate the world about Guam and our culture, about where we are, and who we are,” Josh Tyquiengco of the Guam Visitors Bureau told Agence France-Presse.
“Guam is more than a military base. We are a safe family destination. We reassure potential visitors that we continue to be a safe … place to visit,” Tyquiengco told AFP.
Sitting about 2,100 miles from the rogue nation, Guam is the 32nd-largest American island — but looms large in the escalating war of words between Kim and President Trump.
Suddenly, the world is taking notice of the island that houses two US military installations and 6,000 US troops.
So far, fears of a potential attack have not kept tourists away, according to Tyquiengco.
“We heard about a few booking cancellations from South Korea, but it’s too minimal to affect the industry,” he said.
Gov.
Eddie Calvo channeled the president by saying any attack on Guam “would
be met with overwhelming force,” pointing out that the biggest threat
facing the island was the looming typhoon season.
“With that, everybody should conduct their lives like business as usual. It’s the weekend. Go out, have a good time, enjoy the beaches tomorrow and live your lives.
“At this point, there are thousands of tourists coming in on a daily basis … from Japan, (South) Korea, Taiwan and China and other areas. It is our belief that they should enjoy themselves here.”
On Friday, arriving tourists appeared untroubled by the prospect of missile strikes.
Sun Doojin, who arrived with her husband and 2-year-old daughter on a flight from Seoul, responded with an emphatic “no” when asked if she was concerned about Kim’s saber-rattling.
In an editorial, the Guam Daily Post said the spotlight on the island offered an opportunity to show the world why an island of 162,000 people draws more than 1.5 million visitors a year.
“The beach waters are crystal clear, beaches aren’t overrun, and nature hiking trails are very accessible,” the editorial said.
“The
different cultures that are showcased on the island through food make
Guam a hidden gem, a tropical vacation getaway but with the amenities
and comforts of some of the small cities stateside.”
Homeland Security spokeswoman Jenna Gaminde told the Guam Daily News that in case of an attack, residents would be immediately notified by sirens from the All-Hazards Alert Warning System located across the island.
“If you hear the sirens, tune into local media — radio, print, television — for further instructions,” she said.
Pyongyang has said it would take less than 18 minutes for a missile to reach the US territory.
On the plus side, Guam is also equipped with the state-of-the-art THAAD weapons system, which is capable of destroying intermediate-range missiles mid-flight.
But so far, there has been no change in the threat level.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. No missile is going to land on Guam,” said Carl Peterson, who serves on the Guam Chamber of Commerce’s armed forces committee.
“We’ve got defense mechanisms in place … they have the ability to seek out the missiles with kinetic energy and destroy it.”
This story originally appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.
Even though Kim threatened to unleash “enveloping fire” by landing four missiles nearby, Guam officials want to allay fears of an Armageddon by touting the island’s idyllic scenery and secluded beaches.
“The circumstances are unfortunate but this is a good opportunity for us to educate the world about Guam and our culture, about where we are, and who we are,” Josh Tyquiengco of the Guam Visitors Bureau told Agence France-Presse.
“Guam is more than a military base. We are a safe family destination. We reassure potential visitors that we continue to be a safe … place to visit,” Tyquiengco told AFP.
Sitting about 2,100 miles from the rogue nation, Guam is the 32nd-largest American island — but looms large in the escalating war of words between Kim and President Trump.
Suddenly, the world is taking notice of the island that houses two US military installations and 6,000 US troops.
So far, fears of a potential attack have not kept tourists away, according to Tyquiengco.
“We heard about a few booking cancellations from South Korea, but it’s too minimal to affect the industry,” he said.
Coco Palm Beach in Guam. Photo: Supplied
“With that, everybody should conduct their lives like business as usual. It’s the weekend. Go out, have a good time, enjoy the beaches tomorrow and live your lives.
“At this point, there are thousands of tourists coming in on a daily basis … from Japan, (South) Korea, Taiwan and China and other areas. It is our belief that they should enjoy themselves here.”
On Friday, arriving tourists appeared untroubled by the prospect of missile strikes.
Sun Doojin, who arrived with her husband and 2-year-old daughter on a flight from Seoul, responded with an emphatic “no” when asked if she was concerned about Kim’s saber-rattling.
In an editorial, the Guam Daily Post said the spotlight on the island offered an opportunity to show the world why an island of 162,000 people draws more than 1.5 million visitors a year.
“The beach waters are crystal clear, beaches aren’t overrun, and nature hiking trails are very accessible,” the editorial said.
Tourists enjoy the activities along Tumon beach on the island of Guam. Picture: AFP
Homeland Security spokeswoman Jenna Gaminde told the Guam Daily News that in case of an attack, residents would be immediately notified by sirens from the All-Hazards Alert Warning System located across the island.
“If you hear the sirens, tune into local media — radio, print, television — for further instructions,” she said.
Local leaders say Guam is actually a perfect place to visit — and it has a missile shield.
On the plus side, Guam is also equipped with the state-of-the-art THAAD weapons system, which is capable of destroying intermediate-range missiles mid-flight.
But so far, there has been no change in the threat level.
“I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. No missile is going to land on Guam,” said Carl Peterson, who serves on the Guam Chamber of Commerce’s armed forces committee.
“We’ve got defense mechanisms in place … they have the ability to seek out the missiles with kinetic energy and destroy it.”
This story originally appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.
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