ENJOYING GUAM is one thing. Sharing your moments with the world through social media is another.
This 2018, Guam’s tourism board launched its travel campaign for the year, #InstaGuam, combining two ideas: showcasing Guam as an instant destination, and using social media to share user-generated content that promotes the island further.
The view of Guam’s main beach from a hotel taken and shared by @tobu on Instagram
Since its Philippine launch in Makati on February 7, 2018 — organized by the Guam Visitors Bureau and attended by travel stakeholders, Chamorro performers, Miss Guam 2017, Filipino actor Benjamin Alves (who grew up in Guam), and the media, including this writer — the campaign has been gaining momentum online.
More people are sharing their vacation moments on this American island territory, some 2,569 kilometers from Manila, or around 3.5 hours by air. Guam is also reachable from other parts of Asia and the Pacific in just three to five hours, making it an instant destination even for short weekends.
Estimated air travel duration from some of our neighboring countries. Grab from Visit Guam website.
#InstaGuam campaign launched in the Philippines
Three airlines fly Manila to Guam: Philippine Airlines (PAL) with nightly flights, Cebu Pacific with three early-morning flights, and United Airlines with evening flights Monday through Saturday. Since Guam is part of the United States, Filipinos can visit with a valid passport and a US visa.
During the Philippine launch, the bureau shared updates on Guam’s activities for the year ahead. Benjamin Alves talked about growing up on the island and his favorite spots and moments there. Ben, as we fondly call him, is among the thousands of Filipinos who call Guam a second home, if not their first.
Filipinos make up around 26.3 percent of Guam’s population, just 11 percentage points behind the native Chamorro at 37.3 percent. The rest is a mix of multiracial residents, white Americans, Chuukese, Korean, Chinese, Palauan, Japanese, Pohnpeian, and other nationalities.
Guam is popular as a duty-free shopping paradise. Beyond shopping, this island offers good food for every kind of traveler, including Chamorro flavors found only here, plus mountain and seascapes, pristine beaches, and plenty of places to visit and things to do.
This stunning shot of Guam from above taken by Lieana Nunez won the week’s best photo of @visitguamusa’s #InstaGuam campaign. For us however, this simply tells one thing: plan out your Guam visit now.
Everyone loves Guam for great things including its beautiful sunsets. Shot and shared by @uzumakifu, this would surely make you visit the island this year.
For more moments, check out #InstaGuam on Instagram and Facebook, or visit the Guam Visitors Bureau’s Facebook page and website.
Have you been to Guam? What are your most awesome Guam moments? Share them in the comments.