Tumon

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Tumon
Tomhom
General Information
Mayor: Francisco C. Blas
Vice Mayor: Louise C. Riverad y
Population: 18, 012

Tumon is an area located on the west coast of the American Island of Guam. Located in the municipality of Tamuning, it is the center of Guam's tourist industry.

Contents

[edit] History of Tumon

When Spanish first arrived to Guam in 1668, Tumon was one of the most prominent villages. The first missionary to Guam, Padre (Pålé) Diego San Vitores and Pedro Calungsod were killed in Tumon by Mata'pang, a village chief, after the priest had baptised the chief's daughter without permission. A park and statue mark the site of San Vitores death while a Roman Catholic church named after him (as Bl. Diego San Vitores) is along Tumon's main road, also named in his honor.

A small tunnel through a large rock on the tourist beach overlooking the bay was part of the defensive positions prepared by the Japanese occupiers during World War II. The American forces landed in a different location during the Battle of Guam and the Tumon defenses were not tested.

Today, dozens of hotels in addition to shopping centers, water parks, night clubs, and other attractions can be found along the sandy beaches of Tumon Bay. The Bay was recently made a marine preserve. Tumon is served by Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Tamuning.

[edit] Politics

As the center of Guam's tourist industry, issues concerning Tumon often lead to political debates. One recurring debate concerns whether adult entertainment businesses should remain in the area. Another recurring issue involves propositions to legalize gambling on Guam which would lead to casinos in the area. Due to the area's economic importance, extensive public works projects often take place in Tumon leading some politicians to be both applauded and criticised for the disproportionate funding given to the region. Tumon is part of the municipality of Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon which is governed by an elected mayor.

[edit] Transportation and Communication

Tumon currently serves the largest taxi service on Guam. Tumon is appo. 1-4 miles of the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport. The Guam Telephone Company operates in the city. Tumon does not have power poles in the city, it is the only city on Guam that has underground power.

[edit] Economy

Tumon is Guam's economic center. Tourism makes up more than half the economy of the island. Tourists flock to the shopping centers each morning to the local malls and shopping centers in the area. In 2005, Guam had the most tourists come to the island. Over 1.2 million visitors visited the island that year. [citation needed]

[edit] Shopping

Tumon, as being Guam's premier shopping district has many malls and shopping arcades to choose from such as

  • Duty Free Galleria (DFS)
  • Acanta Mall
  • Tumon Sands Plaza
  • The Plaza
  • JP Superstore
  • The Guam International Mall (Coming Winter 2006)

Because of all the luxury shops and midscale stores in the city, Tumon is sometimes nicknamed "Mini Waikiki" or the "Pacific Beverly Hills". Many brand name companies have their stores in the city. Some of the stores that the city has are:

[edit] Activities

The beaches in Tumon are all wildfile preserves and people cannot catch fish. Tourists flock the beaches to enjoy the clear water and enjoy a day full of activities. Popular attractions include shopping in one of Tumon's shopping centers, the largest tunnel aquarium in the world, an attraction known as the Daring Sling Shot (riders are strapped into a ball that's shot upward on a wire and brought back down), and the popular Magic on Ice Show at the Sand Castle. There's also many Guamanian shows available.

Fishing is allowed in certain areas, but fisherman must stand on the beach to cast their nets or fishing lines. Walking into the water to fish is illegal. Tumon Bay was dredged when the hotels sprang up in the 90's to clear the beach of the "unsightly" seaweed that washed ashore. The dredging in turn reduced the once abundant sealife that once existed in the shallows. Currently, white sand is brought in to cover the originally slightly more brown sand the once naturally existed on Tumon Beach. The rocks were also removed and now Tumon is viewed by some as a "mini-Waikiki", with Hawaiian style fire dances.

One big Tourist Shopping location is Micronesia Mall, which has expanded and added a food court and a Macy's as the sole anchor store. Another big shopping location is a 24 hour K-Mart, which is as big as any standard K-Mart on the mainland US. Parking is frequently full and there is parking on the roof. Both Micronesia Mall and K-Mart are off Hotel Row, with buses frequently running between the shops and the hotels.

[edit] Night Life and Entertainment

Tumon has many dance clubs, several strip clubs and many more kinds. The largest dance center is called the Globe. The Sandcastle is a Las Vegas-style attraction, with magic shows featuring tigers, flamingos and other exotic animals.

There is currently a debate in the area on the subject of "adult entertainment". Some contend the strip clubs bring in much needed tourist dollars, while others believe they scare away families.

[edit] Education

Guam Public School System serves the island. Currently only three schools serve the village of Tumon. They are Tamuning Elementary School, John F. Kennedy High School & Chief Brodie Elementary.

[edit] Ecology

In the 1990's, as hotels filled up the beachfront property along Tumon Bay, the bay was dredged by the hotel community to remove the seaweed that frequently washed ashore and "despoiled the beauty" of the beach.

Currently, Tumon Bay, or Hotel Row, is a protected reserve, but it will take many years for the seaweed and fish to come back to their previous levels. The beach along Hotel Row was also covered with rocks, many of which were removed as well.

The beachfront is now home to many Hawaiian-style shows and dotted with shops. Currently, white sand is trucked in weekly to cover the slightly darker, browner sand that naturally occurs along Tumon Bay as waves wash the sands out to sea. Every morning rakings occur at the Hyatt Regency to make the sand look untouched by the masses of the previous day.

[edit] Economy

[edit] See also

[edit] External links and references

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