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(Tokyo, Japan) – The Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB), in collaboration with United Airlines, successfully hosted the Guam Educational Travel Forum 2025 in Tokyo, Japan on August 7, 2025. The event convened 13 tourism industry member organizations, including the University of Guam, to showcase Guam's distinctive facilities and programs for educational travel to an audience of over 51 school officials and travel industry professionals. This event underscored the island's advantages as a premier destination for educational tourism.
The forum's initial segment featured opening remarks and destination updates from the GVB Japan team. Presentations by United Airlines, the University of Guam—led by Carlos Taitano PMBA, UOG Director, Global Learning and Engagement; Tamara Hayashi, Program Assistant; and Kyle Mandapat, UOG Associate Director for Communications & Community Engagement/Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant—and Barefoot Guam Supervisor Maho Quinene, furnished attendees with the latest information on educational travel and results from group travels to Guam. The audience further benefited from insightful keynote speeches delivered by Professor Noboru Okubo from Nakamura Gakuen International Travel, Hotel, and Bridal College and Tomomi Oba from Tama University Associate Professor, International Exchange Committee Member/Academic English Program (AEP) Coordinator, representing Japanese tourism colleges and universities that have completed training programs in Guam.
The latter half of the event facilitated productive one-on-one tabletop sessions between participating organizations and audience members, fostering optimistic discussions for FY2026. Additionally, organizers from the Kashiwa International Relations Association (KIRA) attended and connected with Barefoot Guam to assist in the revival of homestay and cultural exchange programs.
Participating member organizations included: Arluis Wedding, Barefoot Guam, Crowne Plaza Resort Guam, Dusit Hotels and Resorts, Fisheye Marine Park, Ken Hotels and Resorts, Leo Palace Resort Guam, Lotte Hotel Guam, Pacific Island Holidays, TP Micronesia, Watabe Wedding, United Airlines, and the University of Guam.
“Guam has significant potential to host more educational tours, and we've seen an increase in inquiries this year,” said Régine Biscoe Lee, GVB President & CEO. “It's mutually beneficial for all to bring tourism partners, educational groups, and airlines together to provide updates, invigorate the student market, and welcome them to Guam.”
The Guam Educational Travel Forum aims to attract more youth and student travelers from Japan, encompassing study abroad programs, school trips, education and awareness on homestay and cultural exchange programs, as well as training excursions. Building on the success of last year's forums in Nagoya and Osaka, which led to a notable increase in inquiries and bookings, GVB plans to sustain this collaborative effort with travel trade partners to host similar events in the future.
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