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MVA: Crimes vs tourists dropping
Based on reports by tour agents, crimes being committed against tourists have showed a significant decline, according to Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion.
“We have noticed that the crime rates against tourists have dropped, which is a good thing. However, it still happens occasionally,” said Concepcion. “The MVA still receives reports from tour companies saying that their clients would go to a secluded tourist site such as Tank Beach, Wing Beach, or somewhere not highly frequented. They leave their car, go to the beach and come back to the car, only to find a shattered window with their wallets missing.”
Concepcion said it is definitely something that should not be dismissed. “Of course, that’s a concern for us. We are confident that our partners at the [Department of Public Safety] are able to effectively crack down on these types of crimes,” he said.
Concepcion said that safety is one of the many marketing tools being utilized by MVA to effectively lure in tourists, which then proceed to improve the CNMI economy.
“We really work hard when we go overseas to market ourselves as a clean and safe destination. We’re part of the U.S., so we use that as one of our marketing tools because it’s popular. Tourists, knowing that they are going to a part of the U.S., have this sense of security that they are not going to a Third World nation in which something bad may happen to them at any time,” said Concepcion.
He reiterated that crimes against tourists are slowly dwindling and that the community must be on the alert for such situations, because the safety of tourists guarantees that the CNMI economy flourishes.
“We hope that our efforts [showcasing Saipan] as a safe, clean, and beautiful destination are met when tourists come here. For the most part, it’s been very good. I have not seen much reports of crimes against tourists, but we will always be vigilant and make sure that we protect these visitors because they are what fuels our economy,” said Concepcion.
“At the same time, we would work effectively to put out a positive image as a safe, clean, and beautiful paradise in the Pacific,” he added.
