Why Guam needs a year-round pavilion

By Patricia L. Diego

I recently had the chance to attend Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. It’s not just an expo; it’s a global showcase, a brain spa, and a cultural theme park all rolled into one.

Countries like Uzbekistan, Italy and Saudi Arabia are doing an incredible job at Expo 2025, blending deep cultural traditions with fresh, engaging narratives about who they are and what they stand for. One of the standout exhibits, the breathtaking Blue Ocean Dome, offers a powerful vision.

Organized by the non-profit ZERI JAPAN and designed by world-renowned

architect Shigeru Ban, this innovative structure features three interconnected domes built from sustainable materials like laminated bamboo, carbon-fiber reinforced plastic, and recycled paper tubes. It really brings to life ocean stewardship, marine sustainability, and innovative solutions for protecting

our planet's oceans, focusing on themes like combating plastic pollution and sustainable marine industries.

 These are vital themes that resonate profoundly with our island community on Guam, given our deep connection to the sea.

Guam may be small in size, but it has a uniquely rich culture, an exceptionally warm and welcoming community, and a strategic importance in the Pacific that lends our story global relevance. This is the kind of story we need to tell boldly, proudly, and permanently.

Guam doesn’t have an official pavilion at Expo 2025, but that’s exactly what 

sparked a bigger idea: why not create one here at home, permanently?

Here’s the good news. The Expo runs until Oct. 13. Osaka is a three to four-hour flight away. Japan remains Guam’s biggest tourism market.

The U.S. dollar is strong. It’s the perfect moment for

Guam’s representatives and leaders, from  policymakers

to business owners and, yes, especially entrepreneurs, to

make the trip.

No need for ceremonial ribbon-cuttings. This should be a practical, boots-on-the-ground, notebook-in-hand kind of mission.

Go. Observe. Take notes. Ask questions. Steal (ethically) the best ideas. Come home with fresh inspiration for Guam’s visitor industry.

One big takeaway? Let’s use the Expo’s spirit to create

 something permanent on-island: a Guam Culture and 

Ocean Pavilion. Let’s make it a year-round, living exhibit that proudly tells our

 story to the world. 

We could highlight CHamoru heritage, ocean stewardship, and our unique place as a gateway to Asia and the Indo-Pacific. Think immersive storytelling meets eco-tourism and cultural education, right in the heart of Guam.

Expo 2025 reminded me that countries big and small are making bold moves to shape their future image. And people are listening. Guam deserves to be heard, too. We have the stories, the heart, and the Hafa Adai spirit to

 match anyone out there.

Let’s not just rebuild tourism— let’s reinvent it.

Let’s turn inspiration into action. There’s still time.

Patricia L. Diego, a Masters of Public Administration candidate at the University of Guam

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