Guam’s economy is founded on tourism, construction, and a heavy military presence. Japan serves as source for most of Guam’s tourism, but unfortunately, tourism dried up during Covid, costing the Island many jobs in hospitality. Since Covid, tourism from Japan has been slow to recover, with matters made worse by the prolonged weakening of the Yen against the dollar. According to the locals, on any given day thousands of tourists trafficked the sidewalks rounding Tumon Bay’s concentration of resort properties. Now, emptier, a steady economic offset is the ongoing buildup of military installations, driven by gradually relocating Marine Corps forces from Okinawa. Among other defense projects, the establishment of Camp Blaz, the new Marine Corps Base, is funding millions of dollars’ worth of construction across the island.
Getting away from Guam’s economic productivity, much of the island is happy to let go of keeping apace. Visits to local Marinas attest to Guam’s slower, less concerned side. Many of the boats (still floating) had expired registration stickers. Of those a number are abandoned. Of those a number are in disrepair, or worse, are sunken. Right away I realize I’m spoiled by San Diego’s numerous yacht clubs – issuing eviction warnings for expired registrations, seizing boats behind on monthly pier fees, and disposing of abandoned boats while invoking civil action against its owners.
Agat Marina - an abandoned boat in the foreground, another sunken at the next pier; an isolated place like Guam won’t have the legal backing to enforce all the regulations California has:
