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MVA seeks land operators’ input on new regs
The Marianas Visitors Authority hopes to meet with the islands’ land tour operators next week to begin discussion on the proposed regulations for Public Law 18-58, according to MVA’s managing director Perry Tenorio. Once implemented, the regulations would usher in a certification program for tour operators and guides in the Commonwealth.
“I expect this process to take more than one meeting and [we] are still targeting full implementation by May 1, 2015,” Tenorio told Saipan Tribune.
According to the law, the certificates would ensure minimum proficiency in the English language and successful training on the CNMI’s history, culture, and scenic attractions of the islands.
The law also allows the charging of “reasonable fees” to carry out these mandates. Further, it requires businesses to “be a member in good standing of MVA” in order to obtain a license to do business as a tour operator, on top of the certification and other things.
MVA has stated the importance of these regulations to ensure quality of service and care of visitors on the islands.
In a board meeting last month, MVA directors also stressed the importance of “true enforcement” of these regulations. Security guards in place at some of the major tourist attractions on island were pointed to as an existing third party for this enforcement.
A “working plan” of six months was set as the timeframe to officially start the certification program.
On the table is a plan to have tour guides and operators complete 30 instructional hours for certification, with 20 hours of classroom instruction, and 10 hours of field instruction, according to Tenorio. But “this is subject to change,” he said.
Earlier, Tenorio said MVA would look to revisit the college to discuss the specifics of such a program.
