A spectacular view of Tumon Bay, Guam’s major tourist destination where world-class hotels and amusement centers are located.

Hagatna, Guam – Viewed on a global map, Guam is just a small dot, so tiny it seems the island does not exist at all given the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

But be that as it may, no one can dispute the fact that being at the crossroads of East and West, Guam has become (and more so in the near future) one of the most important and exciting tourist destinations in the Western Pacific region. At the time of the author’s visit here in February, Guam’s vibrant central business district, world class hotels, spas and scenic beach resorts were teeming with young Japanese, Koreans and other vacationers.

Available data says Guam, a United States territory, covers an area of 212 square miles and is about 30 miles in length with a width of 8.5 miles at the northern tip and a maximum width in the south of 11.8 miles.

The first thing a first-time visitor to Guam will see upon arrival is the ultra-modern international airport, a spacious tri-level complex that is just two miles from Guam’s main tourist district – Tumon Bay. With a spectacular view, Tumon Bay is dotted with fine hotels and which are fully booked especially on weekends, and an array of amusement centers and boutiques. Besides its world-famous duty-free shop, Guam boasts of major shopping centers such as the Micronesia Mall, Agana Commercial Center, SM Store, Guam Premiere Outlet, California Mart, Payless, ROSS and early morning flea markets for bargain hunters.

But the top news these days here in Guam is the upcoming US military buildup owing to the impending transfer of the American Naval Base in Okinawa, Japan to Guam. Reportedly, major engineering work on the site will proceed for the next four years, while more than 14,000 military personnel and their over 38,000 dependents will move to Guam from Okinawa from 2012 to 2016.

It is said that the $15-billion military buildup is expected to boost the local economy and residents are excited about the prospects of such a big project. They say the relocation of the base to Guam would offer tremendous business and job opportunities. The construction of many base facilities, housing and other components is said to require additional skilled workers, many of which will be sourced from other countries like the Philippines. Manila has reportedly reacted favorably to such development since it has available skilled manpower to meet part of the labor demand.

Guam has progressed in recent years that its commercial and entertainment district exudes a cosmopolitan aura. Yet Guam is proud of its past and it has just about everything to satisfy the interest and curiosity of its visitors.

Deep in the forested areas and in convenient location throughout the island, one can see, for instance, ancient latte standing as sentinels and memories of the past. There are also graceful Spanish buildings in southern Guam that refreshes the imagination. I was told too that 63-year-old World War sites offer glimpses into one of the most interesting times of modern history.

Notable among these historical sites is the War in the Pacific Park. Visitors would marvel at the sight of a small vintage Japanese submarine manned, they say, by only two navy men.

Also an attraction on the islands is the Fort of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad which was built in the early 19th century on the southern bluff of the Umatac Bay. This fort is the best preserved of the four originally built in the area. A stone sentry box still stands in the park area which was considered as a perfect spot from which to watch for Spanish galleons or English pirates. It is believed that Magellan first made contact in 1521 with people living in the village.

Guam, it is also said, represents a true example of the great American melting pot because in addition to the indigenous Chamorros, it is home to a variety of people including Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Micronesians as well as Vietnamese, Indians, Europeans, Australians and New Zealanders.

As a result, Guam enjoys a population growth that has now reached an estimated 173,456 based on a mid-July 2007 census. The ethnic composition of the island as indicated in the same census was: 37.1 percent Chamorro, 26.3 percent Filipino, 11.3 percent Pacific islanders, 6.9 percent Caucasian, 6.3 percent Asian and 10.1 percent others.