In a scene straight out of a strategy game, the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association (GHRA) assembled key players last week to tackle the tourism recovery mission. With the island seeking to bounce back from recent downturns, elected leaders and agency heads uncoded the game plan, throwing down the gauntlet on pressing issues from beach safety to resource allocation.

A hot topic emerged: finding enough lifeguards to patrol the shores. Parks and Recreation Director Angel Sablan revealed the harsh reality—just two lifeguards are on duty with six positions open. With the military offering higher starting wages, catching and retaining talent feels like a never-ending grind. “Have mercy on us and help us,” Sablan emphasized, as local beaches face an alarming lack of safety nets and flag systems, especially following a recent tsunami scare.

Meanwhile, Chief Stephen Igancio of the Guam Police Department provided insight into his challenges. Retention isn’t the issue; recruitment is. He has the daunting task of overseeing safety for tourists while juggling crime across numerous villages. “I’ve got crime in 19 villages. I’ve got to deal with the meth problem that’s out there,” he noted. To add to the complexity, homelessness remains a barrier to tourism, with some areas having more homeless individuals than visitors. These real-world challenges are integral to the island’s tourism scene, presenting hurdles that require both immediate and long-term solutions.

On a strategic note, Mayors Council of Guam President Jesse Alig pushed for a broader vision for tourism that extends beyond traditional hotspots. He posed a crucial question: Is the tourist slump due to a lack of resources, or are we simply mismanaging what we have? Speaker Frank Blas Jr. echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of efficient resource management. If Guam’s hospitality industry is to level up in the tourism game, it needs to start acting like its own biggest fan.

Amidst the challenges comes a call to action from Regine Biscoe Lee, CEO of the Guam Visitors Bureau. Aiming for a sustainable tourism model is key as future military growth could plateau. Balancing rapid changes with thoughtful growth isn’t just a mission; it’s a necessity for Guam to thrive.

As we gather our resources and strategize, the future of Guam’s tourism is not just a team effort—it’s an exciting, power-up journey that the entire community needs to embark on together. So, whether you’re a gamer, a tech enthusiast, or new to the Web3 scene, it’s time to gear up and play your part in shaping the outcome.