Concurrent with the stable growth of Guam’s tourism industry and military installations, other sectors of the island’s economy will expand due to the increase in population and the new dollars circulating in the local economy. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Guam’s population would be 180,692 in year 2010, a jump of nearly 17% for the decade. However, that projection did not account for the Islandwide build–up generated by the 17,000 Marines and dependants to be arriving between years 2010 and 2014 as well as other military personnel to be deployed to Guam, nor the complementary workers (and their families) involved with preparing for those relocations. Consequently, recent Government of Guam projections show Guam’s population at 215,000 by year 2013 and at 231,000 by year 2015.

The target industries for investment opportunities within the general economy are, therefore, plentiful. They include:

• Housing construction (single family residences, townhouses, condominiums, apartments); and
• General community businesses (laundromats, convenience stores, DVD and video rentals, grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, toy stores, sporting goods stores, air conditioning sales and repair, used vehicle sales, vehicle repairs and servicing, warehousing, furniture sales, electronics sales, appliances sales, building materials sales, apparel sales, shipping and transportation services, agriculture and aquaculture, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing services, business support services, nursing and residential care services, fast food outlets, and restaurants.

Investment in Guam's Tourism Industry

Tourism has been Guam’s primary economic driver for the past three decades. The U.S. Territory is currently served by seven major airlines including Continental/United, Northwest, JAL, All Nippon Airways, Asia Pacific, Philippine Airlines, China Airlines and Korean Air providing an average of more than 1,400 flights per month to East Asia, Australia, Micronesian and Hawaii/U.S. mainland destinations.

The target industries for investment opportunities within Guam’s growing tourism industry are plentiful. They include:

Investment in the U.S. Military Expansion on Guam

Guam’s strategic location in the western Pacific Ocean has prompted the U.S. Department of Defense to plan an enormous expansion of military facilities and personnel on the island. Presently the U.S. Air Force has approximately 2,000 military personnel and 2,500 dependents, for a total of about 4,500. The U.S. Navy lists 4,400 military and 7,500 dependents for a total of 11,900. Therefore, the current military and dependent census on Guam is approximately 16,400.

The Department of Defense has announced the relocation of 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam. Along with their 9,000 dependents, this means as many as 17,000 Marines and families will be relocating to Guam in the next few years.

In July 2006 the Commander, Naval Forces of the Marianas reported to the Governor of Guam that the total spending designated for Guam had been projected at $15 billion over a period of approximately five years from 2011 through 2015. In 2010, $4 billion was awarded for design and build military construction projects for the first phase of this deployment.

A review of recent military construction budgets, deployments and activities for Guam demonstrates the current build–up, absent the recently announced $15 billion.

Annual Military Construction on Guam, FY 2004 – 2009

FY 2004 – $26.6 million
FY 2005 – $81.9 million
FY 2006 – $162 million
FY 2007 – $193 million
FY 2008 – $244 million
FY 2009 – $414 million

Guam Port Calls by Military Vessels

1996 to 1998 – average 10 per year
Current – average 5 to 10 per month

Military Aircraft

Continuing rotational basis for a bomber squadron, a unit of aerial tankers, and a squadron of F–15E fighters.

The target industries for investment opportunities within Guam’s growing military presence are plentiful. They include:

GUAM CIP FORUM PRESENTATION - Click to download (3mb)