Bracing for the millennium

Guam — Guam has dubbed itself a Pleasure Island to promote various tourist attractions, particularly in Tumon Bay which has undergone a multimillion-dollar facelift in what officials hope would spur its tourism industry.

With the newest fleet of Boeing 737 jets by Continental Micronesia coupled with the gradual recovery by some Asian economies, particularly Japan, Guam and the rest of the islands in the region may register positive signs in their visitor arrivals for the first time since 1997.

In a tour hosted by the Guam-based carrier, dozens of journalists and travel agents from Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii, CNMI and other island nations in the region saw the results of the modernization program the Agana government has carried out over the past two years.

While the plan is not yet complete, many of the changes stand as a symbol of Guam’s commitment to bring its tourism industry — its main economic force like the rest of the islands in Micronesia — into the next millennium.

Tumon alone has seen the rise of new hotels and other attractions that now dot the tourist district. Outrigger Guam Resort, which opened in June, is the latest addition to row of hotels overlooking the ocean.

Plush boutiques and famous international restaurants like Sam Choy and Hard Rock Cafe provide visitors a wide array of choices to go to after spending most of the day on the beach.

Adjacent to Outrigger is Underwater World which offers tourists a tour of different fish and marine species inside a huge aquarium. Beside it is Gameworks, a venue for far riskier adventures like rock climbing and virtual reality games.

New aircraft: While Guam’s tourism leaders took these bold steps to invest in other attractions, Continental Micronesia decided to upgrade its fleet to improve further its service and make its operations more efficient.

On Tuesday, the airlines unveiled the first two of the nine B737 jets that it has acquired as part of its $315 million fleet rejuvenation plan for the next 15 months.

During the public viewing, airline executives welcomed Guam officials, journalists and other guests to experience the comfort of the new jets which are equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment system, bigger overhead compartment, and a cockpit visual display that is excellent both during day and nighttime.

A B737 also has more efficient fuel consumption compared to a B727 and can carry up to 155 passengers per flight, which means the airlines can reduce operational costs while widening profit margin.

Capt. Ralph Freeman, who has been a pilot for 28 years, said the aircraft is an ideal size for the region where Continental has been a pioneer in flying passengers in and out of different Micronesian islands to and from key Asian cities as well as the United States.

“Continental is sensitive to marketing issues and it will adjust its fleet plan based on the number of passengers,” he said.