ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the historical background to and the emergence of indigenous entrepreneurship in Guam's tourism industry. Guam's colonial status has both stimulated and inhibited tourism and economic growth. Colonialism often distorts or prevents internal economic growth in a colonized space, especially if such would conflict with the colonizer's geo-strategic interests. Local entrepreneurs are working now to carve out their "third space" outside the limits of the existing commercial tourist industry. However, access to many sites of cultural significance are restricted due to military land tenure and security concerns, a feature of continuing colonialism. Despite industry reticence, the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) has attempted to "decolonize" the image of Guam to meet tourist demand but also to be more representative of what actually exists in Guam culturally the historical analysis is needed to understand how these factors have impacted and continue to limit the growth of the tourism industry in Guam.
