Since the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security approving Parole Authority for Russian Visitors to Guam, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) continues to work to develop a promotion strategy that ensures the successful entering of the market.

“Right now, we are working on a plan to promote Guam in Russia,” GVB Deputy General Manager Nathan Denight said. “We have some unique challenges in this new market because Guam is already being promoted, but used as an acronym to represent the Russian political states of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbijan and Moldova.”

GVB’s plan focuses on the eastern region of the country that includes the cities of Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Yakutsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. A focus will also be given to the centrally located city of Novosibirsk that will provide access to other major city-centers such as Moscow and Kazan.

As part of its strategic goals, GVB intends to work with the CNMI’s Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) to promote the region in Russia. In a letter to CNMI Governor Benigno Fitial, General Manager Joann Camacho affirmed GVB’s commitment to work with MVA on a plan that benefits both jurisdictions.

“Russian visitors usually make longer stays in places they visit. Because of that, there are more opportunities afforded to the people of the Marianas region,” GVB General Manager Joann Camacho said. “By working with MVA and the Russian trade, this ‘One Marianas’ approach will maximize benefits for all our people.”

GVB Marketing Manager Pilar Laguana stated that part of the plan is to attend an international travel fair, much like the JATA fair in Japan, to be held in Moscow later this year. At the same time, put on road shows in its focus cities in the eastern and central part of the country.

Laguana added, “It is our intention to educate the travel trade on our Parole Authority Visa Waiver approval, provide information on the accessibility to the region, inform the trade of travel and tourism offerings, and to establish media relations for future marketing campaigns.”

As part of its preparations, GVB is also undertaking the responsibility to assist the tourism industry on Guam to prepare for Russian Visitors.

“We are currently establishing a list of people on island, possessing knowledge of speaking, reading and writing Russian, who are interested in providing translation services,” GVB Spokesperson Antonio Muna said. “While the marketing plan is still in draft form, it is important that we begin to prepare the industry, both infrastructure and guest services, to support the needs of Russian visitors to Guam.”