Guam Overview Country Overview Guam is the largest and most southerly island of the Marianas archipelago. It is a predominantly hilly island and at its northern end is a plateau of rolling hills and cliffs rising 152m (500ft) above sea level. The cliffs are tunnelled with caves. The island narrows in the middle, with the southern half widening into a land of mountains and valleys cut by streams and waterfalls. The most sheltered beaches are on the western coast and there are fine coral reefs around the island’s shores. Due to the large US Naval presence, the island is cosmopolitan and energetic. In a different era, Spain ruled the islands for nearly 333 years and Agaña, the capital, has many historic buildings dating from this period. Tumon Bay, just up the coast from Agaña, is the main tourist centre. A selection of nightclubs feature music and dancing. Major hotels frequently stage shows with singers and musicians from the US mainland. General Information Area: 549 sq km (212 sq miles). Population: 151,968 (1999). Population Density: 276.8 per sq km. Capital: Agaña. Tamuning is the commercial centre. Population: 1139 (1990). GEOGRAPHY: Guam is the largest and most southerly island of the Marianas archipelago. It is a predominantly hilly island and its northern end is a plateau of rolling hills and cliffs rising 152m (500ft) above sea level. The cliffs are tunnelled with caves. The island narrows in the middle, with the southern half widening into a land of mountains and valleys cut by streams and waterfalls. The most sheltered beaches are on the western coast. Government: US External Territory (Unincorporated). Gained internal autonomy in 1982. Head of State: George W Bush since 2001. Head of Government: Governor Felix Camacho since 2003. Language: English is the official language; Chamorro is the local language. Japanese is also spoken. Religion: Christian; 90 per cent Roman Catholic. Time: GMT + 10. Electricity: 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Communications:   Telephone Overseas telecommunications facilities are available in Agaña. Country code: 671. Outgoing international code: 001. Mobile telephone GSM 1900 network exists. Main provider is Guam Wireless Co LLC. Fax Many hotels have facilities. Internet Main ISPs are Guam.Net (website: www.guam.net) and ITE (website: www.ite.net). Post The Agaña and Tamuning branches are open Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0930-1200. The Guam Main Facility branch is open Mon-Fri 0930-1700, Sat 1300-1600. Press The English-language daily newspaper is The Pacific Daily News. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.36 9.740 6.195 3.915 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 17.74 11.71 9.645 6.110 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No Yes Australian Yes No Yes Canadian Yes No Yes USA 1 No No OtherEU Yes 2 Yes Japanese Yes No Yes PASSPORTS: Required by all except 1. US citizens entering Guam from the US mainland or a US territory, provided they hold proof of citizenship and valid photo ID card. VISAS: A US visitor visa is required by all except the following: (a) 2. nationals listed in the chart above (except nationals of Greece who do require a visa); (b) nationals of Andorra, Brunei, Iceland, Indonesia, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Taiwan* and Uruguay. * Taiwanese nationals are only visa exempt if they begin their journey in Taiwan and travel directly to Guam. Note: The nationals listed above are declared visa-exempt under the Guam Visa Waiver Program on the following conditions: (a) Purpose of visit is for business or touristic purposes only. (b) Stay in Guam will not exceed 15 days. (c) The air carrier is a participant in the Guam visa waiver programme. (d) All visitors are in possession of a non-refundable return ticket bearing a confirmed departure date not exceeding 15 days from entry to Guam, and a completed and signed visa waiver form, I-736 (obtainable from the airline). (e) Travellers who enter Guam visa free are not eligible to travel onward to the USA. Types of visa and cost: Non-immigrant (business or tourist): £46. There are several other types of visa; enquire at local US Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application to: US Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy). For addresses, see USA section. Application requirements: (a) Passport valid for at least six months after planned date of departure from Guam, with at least one blank page to affix visa stamp. (b) One application form for each applicant, regardless of age. (c) One passport-size colour photo for each applicant, including infants. (d) Application fee pre-paid in cash at a bank using paying-in slip provided with application form. (e) Documentation and intent to return to country of residence. (f) Stamped self-addressed envelope, ordinary postage, not registered or recorded. Note: Visa processing is by mail or an authorised travel agent. In case of emergency, it is possible to make an appointment to call in person. Contact the US Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy). Working days required: Five. Temporary residence: The individual must obtain a work or immigrant visa or be petitioned by a US citizen. Contact the US Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy). Note: Further information can be obtained from the US Embassy (tel: (09068) 200 290 (recorded information line; calls cost 60 pence per minute); website: www.usembassy.org.uk). Money Currency: US Dollar (US$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of US$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of US$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. For exchange rates and currency restrictions, see the USA section. Currency exchange: There are numerous US and international banks on the island. ATMs are widely available. Credit & debit cards: Most major credit and charge cards are widely accepted on Guam. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1500, Fri 1000-1800, Sat 0900-1200 (Bank of Guam only). Duty Free The following may be imported into Guam without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200g of tobacco (or a combination of the three); 3 bottles of spirits; a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use; goods up to the value of US$1000. Restricted items: Fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants; livestock and meat products; narcotics; items in breach of US copyright law. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 20 Martin Luther King Day. Feb 17 President’s Day. Mar 3 Guam Discovery Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. May 26 Memorial Day. Jul 4 Independence Day. Jul 21 Liberation Day. Sep 1 Labour Day. Oct 13 Columbus Day. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Nov 11 Veterans Day. Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 8 Lady of Camarin Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 19 Martin Luther King Day. Feb 16 President’s Day. Mar 1 Guam Discovery Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. May 24 Memorial Day. Jul 4 Independence Day. Jul 21 Liberation Day. Sep 6 Labour Day. Oct 11 Columbus Day. Nov 2 All Souls’ Day. Nov 11 Veterans Day. Nov 25 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 8 Lady of Camarin Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No No Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 1 N/A Malaria No N/A 1: Poliomyelitis has not been reported for more than five years, although precautions should be taken against typhoid fever. Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. There is, however, a risk of biointoxication from raw or cooked fish or shellfish. Other risks: Hepatitis B is endemic and Hepatitis A also occurs. Dengue fever can occur in epidemics. Health care: Health insurance is strongly advised, owing to the high cost of health care. There is one civilian hospital, the Guam Memorial Hospital, and a number of private clinics, as well as some medical facilities run for US military personnel. Travel - International AIR: Virgin Atlantic flies seven days a week to Narita (Tokyo, Japan), where passengers can connect with a Continental Micronesia flight to Guam. Other airlines serving Guam include All Nippon Airways, Air Japan, Asiana Airlines and Northwest Airlines. Approximate flight times: From Guam to London is 14 hours 30 minutes. International airports: Antonio B Won Pat International Airport (GUM) is 5km (3 miles) from the city. Taxis are available. Airport facilities include a bureau de change, duty-free shop, car hire, restaurant and coffee shop. The terminal is currently being renovated to improve cargo and passenger facilities. Departure tax: None. SEA: Apra Harbour is the principal port in Micronesia and a port of call for the following shipping lines: Kyowa, Daiwa, Micronesia Transport, American President, Sea-Land Services and Austfreight. ROAD: Bus: The Guam Mass Transit Authority operates buses on nine routes, connecting nearly all the villages on the island. Buses do not run on Sundays or public holidays. Discount fares are available for senior citizens, disabled people and students. Taxi: Fares are metered. Taxis are available near major shopping centres and at hotels. Car hire: Available through most major companies. Charges are based on time and mileage plus insurance. Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required. Accommodation HOTELS: Over the past decade tourism has been growing rapidly and, to cater for this, numerous hotels have been built offering a good range of facilities to suit most tastes and pockets. Many hotels cater almost exclusively for Japanese tourists. For more details, contact the Guam Visitors Bureau (see Contact Addresses section). CAMPING: Camping is permitted on beaches and in some parks; some places are better avoided and the camper should take advice. Information can be obtained from the Guam Visitors Bureau (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction Guam is the largest island in Micronesia and, owing to the large US Naval presence, the most cosmopolitan and energetic. Spain ruled the islands for 333 years and Agaña, the capital, has many historic buildings dating from this era. Also of interest are buildings from the Spanish colonial period and the relics of the Chamorro period (a culture which remains alive today, albeit much modified, in about 55,000 persons). Many attractions are geared towards US GIs at the local US military base. For other visitors to Guam, there are many outdoor and water recreation activities to enjoy. Tumon Bay, just up the coast from Agaña, is the main tourist centre. There are fine coral reefs around the coast. The interior is mountainous, particularly in the south. There are several spectacular cliffs on the north coast. There are three botanical gardens in Guam: the Inarajan Shore Botanical Garden by the sea in the southern part of the island; the Nano Fall Botanical Gardens in Agat, where swimming can be enjoyed in the Nano River under rushing cascades; and the Pineapple Plantation in Yigo. There are also many parks in Guam, some dedicated to the war years. The South Pacific Memorial Park in Yigo commemorates those killed in World War II, and the War in the Pacific National Historical Park is the location of five World War II battle sites with a museum of war photos and relics. Guam has another small museum with sections dedicated to Chamorro culture, natural history and the Japanese soldier who hid in the interior until 1972, unaware that the war was over. As most tourists to Guam are Japanese, many sites commemorate the war. Other parks include Latte Park, located at the bottom of Kasamata Hill; and Merizo Pier Park, with recreational facilities for watersports and the location of the annual Merizo Water Festival acre resort surrounded by a clear lagoon and accessible by speedboat. Beach parks include Talofofo Bay Beach Park, located at the mouth of the Talofofo River and a surfers’ paradise; and Ipao Beach Park, once the location of an ancient Chamorro settlement, later a penal and leper colony, and now one of Guam’s most popular recreational areas. Sport & Activities Watersports: Local dive shops offer daily charters to the popular sites. Attractions for divers include World War II wrecks, reefs and a variety of marine flora and fauna. A type of dolphin, the spinner dolphin, inhabits the island’s shallow bays. A number of creatures which hide in the corals during the day can be seen on night dives. Fully equipped boats may be chartered for skindiving and snorkelling. Surfing facilities are available at coastal resorts. Most hotels have swimming pools, and there is a public pool in Agaña; the west coast offers safe bathing. Fishing: Reef fishing with net and rod is popular, as is spearfishing for groupers and skipjacks and deep-sea fishing for marlin, tuna, wahoo, barracuda, bonito and sailfish. Golf: There are several 18-hole courses. The Windward Hills Course has a clubhouse and pool, as does the Country Club of the Pacific. Visitors are welcome at both. Greyhound races: These are held three times a week. Social Profile Food & Drink: Guamanian cooking is very similar to Spanish cuisine. Typical Guamanian dishes include red rice, shrimp patties and kelagven (a dish of chopped chicken, lemon juice, grated coconut and hot peppers). The wide selection of restaurants features American, European, Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and Mexican food. Nightlife: A range of nightclubs feature music and dancing. Major hotels frequently stage shows with musicians from the US mainland, or local performers including the Guam Symphony & Choral Society. There is a number of cinemas in Tamuning, including at least one 14-screen cinema, most showing recent US films. Dance shows and dinner cruises are also available. Shopping: There are many shopping centres in Agaña, Tumon, Tamuning and Dededo that offer an array of retail items. The main malls include the Agaña and Gibson’s Shopping Centers – the former with a 14-screen multiplex cinema. Micronesia Mall has recently undergone expansion and has the distinction of being the island’s first indoor mall. Good buys in Guam include watches, perfume, jewellery, alcohol, china, stereo equipment and cameras. Shopping hours: Generally Mon-Sat 1000-2100, Sun 1200-1800 but hours do vary from centre to centre. Special Events: Each village has its own fiesta to celebrate its patron saint. They are celebrated on the weekend closest to the Saint’s Day and show the strong Spanish influence on local culture. Liberation Day on 21 July is celebrated with fireworks, feasts and one of the year’s most impressive parades (the other is on 8 December in honour of the Immaculate Conception). The Merizo Water Festival is held every August with various watersports events. Social Conventions: Western customs are well understood – for the visiting Westerner it is quite likely that it will not be the customs of the locals that have to be observed, but those of the visiting Japanese who make up around 90 per cent of the island’s tourists. The most evident Chamorro legacy is the Chamorro language and a range of facial expressions, called ‘Eyebrow’, which virtually constitutes a language of its own. Business Profile Economy: The main components of Guam’s economy are tourism and the US military for whom the island is a vital staging post for operations through the Pacific region. Tourism has expanded rapidly despite the island’s remote location and small size: Guam now receives over one million visitors annually, of whom 90 per cent come from Japan. A range of crops, including maize, cassava, bananas and coconuts, are grown for domestic consumption. Exports include copra, fish and handmade goods. Industry is limited to a petroleum refinery and a handful of light manufacturing operations. Guam is also an important re-export centre for distribution of goods throughout the Pacific, particularly to Micronesia, and this provides a large proportion of its export income. Government policy presently concentrates on attracting foreign investment, principally from Asia, and has been examining the country’s potential as an offshore financial centre. However, the development of the latter is not favoured by the extensive competition in the Pacific and Guam’s tax laws. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Guam Chamber of Commerce, 173 Aspinall Avenue, Ada Plaza Center, Suite 102, Agaña, GU 96910 (tel: 472 6311 or 472 8001; fax: 472 6202; e-mail: gchamber@guamchamber.com.gu; website: www.guamchamber.com.gu). Climate Tropical, with dry and rainy seasons. The hottest months precede the rainy season, which is July to November. Temperatures range from 26-30°C (75-86°F). Required clothing: Casual lightweight clothing, with waterproof wear needed for the rainy season. History and Government History: Guam is the largest and most southerly island of the Marianas Islands, which were occupied by the Chamorro Indians from 1500 BC. It was claimed by the Spanish in 1565 and ruled by Madrid until the Spanish-American War of 1898. The Spanish governor was unaware of the war and, when a US frigate entered Agana harbour with guns blazing, he apologised to the captain for not having a reciprocal salute ready. He surrendered the island the next day. US rule was interrupted by the Japanese invasion of 1941, to be reinstated after fierce fighting three years later. The island has been an important US strategic base since then. Its facilities were provisionally earmarked for substantial expansion following the US withdrawal from the Philippines. However, the end of the Cold War and the overall retrenchment of the American military have forced the government of Guam to look to other means for its long-term future (see Business Profile section). Politics on the island are based on the US system: the most recent gubernatorial election in November 1998 was won by the Democrat Carl Guttierez, while the legislature elections in November 2000 gave the Republicans a single-seat majority in the 15-seat assembly. Government: Under the terms of the 1950 Organic Act of Guam, the island has internal self-government and its citizens are also citizens of the USA, but are not eligible to vote in US elections. The local legislature has 15 members elected for two-year terms in single-seat constituencies. Guam comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and sends one delegate to the House of Representatives. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.