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Continental hosts Chinese travel agents’ Guam tour
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Posted on Dec 15 2006
[B]TUMON, Guam[/B]—In an effort to foster more interest in Guam as a travel destination among Chinese travelers, Continental Airlines hosted a familiarization tour to the island for some of the country’s leading travel agents.
The group arrived on Guam Tuesday, Dec. 12, and embarked on a tour of some Guam’s many scenic, historic, and cultural sites. In addition to enjoying Guam’s natural beauty, the group was also eager to do some shopping and visit a few of the golf courses.
“Golf is very popular in China,” said Han Xing Gu, executive vice president of Sales & Marketing for one of China’s leading travel agencies, China International Travel Service, “In Beijing, we have 120 golf courses and still must wait for a reservation to play.”
During a luncheon hosted by the Guam Visitors Bureau, the group of China’s leading travel agencies spoke freely about their country’s interest in travel and encouraged Guam to continue seeking ways to improve its prospective visa waiver policies with China.
According to marketing manager and acting general manager of GVB, Pilar Laguaña, the bureau has been working with determination to promote the importance that having a visa waiver program with China could mean for Guam and the economy. GVB has also been focused on maintaining an awareness of Guam as a travel destination in China as the country’s traveler market prepares to increase dramatically.
“In the next 24 months, we expect to see some significant changes in the Chinese market,” said Laguaña, “and the GVB has been strategizing for quite some time to secure Guam’s piece of this very lucrative pie. Although Guam does not currently have ADS [Approved Destination Status] with China, we’re still planning ahead, knowing it could and may very well change. We have no intention of missing the boat with regards to the Chinese visitor market, but plan to ride the wave from the very beginning to its very successful end.”
GVB and partners like Continental Airlines will continue working together to explore other avenues and resources to continue establishing Guam as an idea destination for travelers originating from China.[B][I] (PR)
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