■ Interview with the head of Guam’s Government Tourism Commissioner Resin Viskori
Emphasized ‘Guam Down Wellness’ outside the resort
Emphasizing the four-hour distance from Korea
Presents recovery in daily life without any burden of time lag
사진 확대 Regin Biscory, head of the Guam government tourism agency. /Photo = Guam Government Tourism Agency
Recently, the topic of the travel industry is ‘sportscreation’ that combines ‘wellness’ and ‘sports’. An increasing number of people are trying to regain their daily vitality by moving their bodies in the local nature, away from travelling to stay and consume in resorts.
In this trend, Guam, which was considered the epitome of a resort, is also facing a new wind of change. It is a wellness island that heals the body and mind of travelers around the world with its natural resources of clear air and blue sea.
In an interview with Travel Plus, the head of Guam’s government tourism agency, Resin Biscory, who visited Korea to attend the Guam Government Tourism Agency’s New Year’s event in Seoul on the 5th, presented a new travel paradigm that Guam aims for.
Now, he emphasized that Guam is not just a place to stay for recreation, but a space where travelers actively recover according to their rhythm.
사진 확대 Tumon Beach./Photo = Guam Government Tourism Agency
Commissioner Lee first noted common changes in the global travel market, including Korea. In the past, resort-oriented static breaks were preferred, but recently travelers have begun to ask more specific and active questions about what new experiences they can have in Guam this time.
In response, Commissioner Lee said, “The biggest change is that travelers no longer want to travel passively,” adding, “Now, the direction of Guam tourism is also changing into a flexible structure that can design travel according to individual travelers’ interests and tastes.”
Referring to an example of a grandfather who recently visited Guam from Japan, he said, “I heard that my grandson, who saw a dolphin in Guam, left such strong memories that he cried every day that he wanted to go back to Guam,” adding, “Gam, regardless of generation from children to senior citizens, is a place that gives both comfort and excitement like ‘another house to meet away from home.’”
사진 확대 Regin Biscory, head of the Guam government tourism agency. /Photo = Kang Ye-shin Travel + Reporter
In particular, Commissioner Lee analyzed that Guam’s geographical strength has unrivaled value as a wellness destination.
The key advantage is that flight fatigue is low due to the distance that can be reached in four hours from Korea and a small time difference of one hour, and natural recovery is possible without breaking the rhythm of daily life even after arrival.
In fact, referring to Guam’s excellent air quality, Commissioner Li emphasized that a clean environment without noise or light pollution provides immediate comfort to travelers.
“Guam is not a ‘wellness that has to leave far away’, but has optimal conditions for natural recovery while maintaining the rhythm of daily life,” he said.
사진 확대 Fort Soledad in southern Guam. /Photo = Kang Ye-shin Travel + Reporter
Wellness as defined by Guam is not limited to contrived programs. Running, cycling and yoga, as well as everyday sports like jiu-jitsu, are already deeply embedded in the lifestyle of Guam.
“Gamdown wellness is not a grand concept, but more of a process of sharing activities that locals enjoy on a daily basis with travelers,” Director Lee said, adding, “Through this connection, travelers experience deeply permeating Guam’s life.”
The start of the Coco Road Race and Tour of Guam’s representative wellness and sports integration events in April plays an important role in building the image of Guam as an island to move and enjoy. Furthermore, the yoga festival ‘Inna Wellfest’, a representative icon of wellness, is also scheduled to be held around June.
As an alternative for those who want to take a real rest, Commissioner Lee also proposed a tour of the southern region. The process of walking or running outside the bustling Tumon area with the sea by your side in a quiet place such as Merrizo Pier is the best wellness to relieve stress.
In particular, he recommended “Irahan Natural Swimming Pool” as a place with personal affection, and he said it has a more special meaning because it is his grandmother’s hometown. Local playgrounds such as this country grass are now becoming the best wellness spot for travelers, he added.
“The southern region is generally quiet and quiet, so it’s a good place to move according to your rhythm even when traveling,” he said. “The unique food culture of Guam and the hospitality of local people help travelers recover their bodies and minds at their own pace.”
사진 확대 a natural swimming pool in this country. /Photo = Kang Ye-shin Travel + Reporter
Commissioner Li said that Guam remains an island where you can still rest comfortably, but it is now evolving into a place where travelers themselves can find a balance between rest and movement.
“It is now Guam where the body and mind naturally recover without being busy,” he said. “In the future, we plan to continue to introduce original content unique to Guam so that travelers can design new stories that suit their taste.”
After all, Guam’s future is not an artificial island for tourists, but an island where locals and travelers breathe the same air. When numerous resorts tempt travelers with provocative content, Guam rather chose to share the healthy daily lives they originally had.
If Guam’s geographical advantage, called the “America closest to Korea,” is added to this local-centered wellness philosophy, Guam is expected to establish itself firmly as a “rest place that can be found at any time for my resilience,” not just a resort.
