Residents divided over tourism reopening throughout COVID-19 pandemic

As the island continues to vaccinate residents and reopen travel around the world, the timing and process for the reopening of the tourism industry in Guam remains uncertain.

While some residents are in favor of reopening the island – and revitalizing the economy – others want to restrict incoming visitors. Still others are unsure whether they will be welcoming travelers back, vaccinated or not.

A few weeks ago, the governor announced that travelers fully vaccinated with FDA-approved shots will no longer need to be quarantined in state facilities.

At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated Guam’s travel risk to Level 4, suggesting that travel to the island should be avoided.

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Dickerson Joseph, 39, said Guam was not ready for tourism to reopen. But without tourism, the economy suffers.

“I’m scared of people going in and out because it is they who bring COVID,” he said.

Many of the pre-pandemic hospitality jobs have disappeared. Permanent restaurant closings and vacant hotels have kept the economy from recovering quickly.

“I don’t want to open because of COVID, but the problem is the economy,” said Joseph. “We need the money.”

April Rose Guintu-Ostonal, 23, works as a maid at the Pacific Islands Club Guam and part-time at Mobil. She said she would be happy to see tourism reopen once “everything is sorted out,” which means Guam has no cases.

“If there is the virus, I am still not satisfied with opening it, especially if people come from outside the island,” Guintu-Ostonal said.

Maybe people who are fully vaccinated can come here, she said. She’s not sure whether to give a definitive answer – open it or not – but she worries about another wave of the coronavirus.

“Let’s just see what happens, hopefully this year or next,” said Guintu-Ostonal.

Reymundo Rivera, 64, wants the majority of children in Guam to receive the coronavirus vaccine before the island reopens.

The Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the Pfizer BioNTech shot for emergency use in children 12 years and older.

Although Guam achieved its goal of vaccinating more than half of the adult population, Rivera is concerned about the coronavirus, he said.

“The virus is still growing, especially in India. We still have planes coming in and out, ”Rivera said. He does not expect Guam to reopen until December at the earliest.

But the island is entering a new phase of the pandemic as restrictions are lifted.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said she wanted the island to achieve herd immunity where 80% of people are vaccinated and “free” Guam of the virus by July 21.

Peter Rivera, 66, said Guam could be reopened to tourists because “everyone here needs the money. This is the number one source of income.”

It’s about complying with government and public health regulations, he said.

“We have to do it the safe way … make sure they’re all negative,” said Peter Rivera. “If they leave their other places they should be vaccinated. That should be the number one priority to go to another place.”

Reach reporter Anne Wen at awen@guampdn.com.