The 1st ever InstaGuam Fair held last June 1 to 3 at Bonifacio High Street – Taguig was a rousing success. Attended by media editors, celebrities, influencers, and regular Juans, the event proved that Guam is ready to be in the forefront of tourism in the Philippines.
INSTAGUAM was the perfect header to the campaign because it fully encapsulated the initiative’s objective to drive Guam as an ‘instant destination’ through ‘instant shareability on social media.’
The island paradise, albeit small and sparsely populated, boasts a rich culture unparalleled by any other. It’s Chamorro heritage can be seen in traditional performances, clothing, and their cuisine, yet, everything feels familiar and relatable because of the heavy influences brought forth by various cultures and immigrants.
INSTANT DESTINATION
In this day and age, people are so used to having things readily available at all times. In Guam’s case, an instant vacation means it has to be a quick and enjoyable getaway. Only 3 hours away from Manila, Guam is a viable destination for weekend wanderers who wish to unwind for a few days. More so, fun and enjoyment are always guaranteed due to the plethora of activities and tourist destinations on the island.
Mr. Nathan Denight, President & CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, put it best: “You can sky-dive in the morning, and you can scuba-dive in the afternoon, everything is that close.”
INSTANT SHAREABILITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is the perfect vehicle to directly communicate Guam’s winning qualities to the market. From its untouched natural wonders to man-made locations like Two Lover’s Point, Guam is the perfect backdrop to anyone’s Instagram feed.
These two pillars, combined with great food and Guam’s unique Chamorro hospitality, were front and center during the 3-day Guam extravaganza.
To commence day 1 of the festivities, a media launch was held to showcase the very best offerings from Guam. Media attendees were treated to authentic Chamorro dishes, such as red rice, Chicken Kelaguen and TinalaKatne, while Jesse & Ruby with the Guam HafaAdai Show performers took the stage to entertain the crowd with an electrifying presentation of Chamorro song and dance. The event was then opened to the public at 6:00 PM.
The succeeding days allowed GVB, its co-exhibitor GEDA, and event partners to further promote their products and services to the public. From discounted airline tickets (courtesy of Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and United Airline), to special hotel rates and tour packages, travel opportunities were plenty thanks to sponsors like Pacific Star, PacTours, Vacation Guam, Discover Guam, Phil-Guam USA and Two Lovers Point.
In addition to the activities highlighting the simplicity and vivacity of Guam’s everyday living, audiences were able to participate in different coconut-related games, such as the Coconut Olympics, Tap the Coconut, and Coconut Grinding Contest. More so, Ms. Marte Hara-Parr of Discover Guam brought the house down with a spontaneous Chamorro dance class that got everyone grooving, including the event’s security team, much to everyone’s delight.
The exhibition culminated with an SM raffle giveaway courtesy of Pacific Star Resort and Spa, Kloppenburg Enterprise, Wyndham Garden Guam, and PhilGuam USA Travel and Tours. Raffle winners will be announced in GVB’s social media accounts, so make sure to follow @VisitGuamPHon Facebook and Instagram for updates. Finally, the overall success of the event was able to establish two things; first, Filipinos are economically capable to travel abroad should they wish to do so, and second, Guam is on its way to becoming the next IT travel destination for Filipinos.
To know more about Guam, you may visit the Guam Visitors Bureau’s PH Facebook page at: ww.facebook.com/visitguamph, or you may follow the @visitguamph page on Instagram.
