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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 23, 2001

The September 11th attack
Fallback in travel has Guam reeling

By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Daily News

At least 25,000 Japanese tourists have canceled trips to Guam since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and that number is expected to rise to 30,000 by the end of the month.

About 100 Guam-based Continental Airlines flight attendants were told they would be furloughed as of Oct. 1, according to a Continental Airlines employee.

More furlough announcements from the Guam unit could be forthcoming. Worldwide, Continental announced a furlough of 12,000 employees.

The Japan-Guam Travel Association — the largest organization of tour operators on the island — projected, prior to the terrorist attacks, that 90,000 Japanese tourists would visit Guam this month. Bruce Kloppenburg, vice president of the association, said that number would drop by a third.

The rapid economic setbacks to the island's economy have island business and government leaders scrambling for solutions.

The Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association held a meeting of elected officials and industry leaders to discuss a range of possibilities to save the island's tourism industry.

Proposals considered include image-building programs, tax breaks and asking for federal subsidies.

The biggest challenge for Guam's tourism industry, said Guam Visitors Bureau General Manager James Nelson, boils down to this: Tourists are afraid to travel by air.

One proposal that received wide support was to send a message to Japan that it's safe to fly to Guam, and Guam is a safe destination.

"We need to say it fast and say it loud," Kloppenburg said.

Gov. Carl Gutierrez told those at the meeting that he supports sending a delegation to Japan to convey that message. The second week of next month was being considered as the departure date for the delegation, whose members have yet to be determined.

In addition to the delegation, Kloppenburg said the message also could be conveyed faster via newspaper and television advertisements in Japan.

Other steps considered include reducing passenger landing fees to $9 from $10.89 and releasing Guam government money for airport and tourism infrastructure projects.

Those attending the meeting said hotel occupancy is as low as 15 percent, from averages of 20 percent to 30 percent. Hotels have reduced work hours and closed some restaurants that rely mostly on tourist traffic.

Other businesses in the tourist district — from taxis to retail shops to stand-alone restaurants — have reported drastic drops in business.