Senator Shawn Gumataotao has requested approval from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to expand the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program to include the Philippines.

In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, Sen. Gumataotao stressed the economic impact this expansion could have on Guam's tourism industry, which still struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the damage caused by Typhoon Mawar.

With Filipinos making up nearly 30% of Guam's population, Gumataotao believes that this move will help rebuild Guam's economy, which relies heavily on tourism, and bring more visitors from the Philippines to the island.

“To summarize the importance of our tourism industry to Guam’s broader economy, a December 2024 report from the Guam Visitors Bureau found that tourism had comprised 60% of Guam’s economy, generating $2.4 billion in economic impact, $250 million in taxes, and supporting 21,000 jobs – until the pandemic,” wrote Gumataotao. “The report further noted that just as Guam tourism was restarting, Typhoon Mawar hit Guam in May 2023 halting recovery. Adding to the challenges, the Japanese yen fell to a 34-year low in April 2024 which has further added to the economic issues facing greater Micronesia.”

Senator Gumataotao believes that the expansion of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program is not only an important part of Guam’s broader tourism recovery plan, but also an idea that must run parallel with other policy proposals that aim to support existing businesses and attract new industries.