THE Guam Visitors Bureau has taken the right track in cracking down on “illegal and unsightly vinyl banner signs” in the island’s tourist district.

In an advisory informing businesses that they will be enforcing signage compliance along Gov. Carlos Camacho Road and San Vitores Road – with the exception of Pleasure Island in Tumon – GVB said the decision was taken after growing complaints from residents, business owners and GVB members about the proliferating signs.

The GVB advisory cites local law which states no exterior signs shall be erected, displayed or maintained except those that indicate the name of a person or the type of business occupying the premises or the name of the building.

“Signs that display discounts, beer specials, brand names, promotions, liquor company names and other such information may be in violation of Guam law,” GVB warned.

We agree that these banners may affect our island’s tourism industry at a time when it is just starting to recover. The signs, some of which look like they would be more at home in the sleazy tourism traps of other southeast Asian destinations, also run counter to the family-friendly destination that GVB is trying to project for Guam.

GVB, however, must make sure it follows its plan to inform violators first before working with the Department of Public Works to physically remove signs erected on government property. Times are tough, and some of the businesses may just be unaware that they are breaking the law.

However, if these violators continue to flaunt the law, GVB must also be firm in taking down their signs to send the message that they are serious about protecting Guam’s image as a wholesome destination.

While they’re at it, GVB could also crack down the handbilling that continues to be practiced in Tumon.

Handbilling, or the distribution of handwritten or printed promotional material, continues to exist in Tumon, although done more furtively now after tourism officials blamed it for the increase in sex solicitation and even prohibited drugs in Tumon.

Most of the flyers given out by the handbillers promote different types of massage parlors, with some even outrightly advertising beautiful women and the prices per hour with these women.

Worse, these handbillers even operate near the tourism district’s most prestigious hotels and shopping establishments. The tourist patrons of these fine establishments would certainly be shocked to find such seedy activity near the places where they paid top dollar to have access to.

If left unchecked, this could eventually lead to a potentially more serious problem of expanded prostitution, drugs, and other vices, not just a serious blow to Guam’s image as a family-friendly tourist destination.