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MVA opposes trailer park concept
About 100 trailers are parked in a private lot across the Regal Theaters in San Jose. (Erwin Encinares)
Rumors have abounded since a number of trailers were first parked in front of the Regal Theaters in San Jose in November 2016.
One of those rumors had it that the trailers would be used to house tourists. It was said that the trailers were for a trailer park-themed lodging business.
It now appears that the manager of Saipan Ocean View Hotel owns the trailers. Saipan Tribune attempted to contact the manager yesterday, to no avail. However, it was learned that last May 16, the Coastal Resources Management approved the major siting permits of the establishment, implying that Commonwealth Zoning Board permits have been approved as well.
Whatever the case may be, the Marianas Visitors Authority is against the concept. Responding to rumors that the trailers will be used to accommodate tourists who visit Saipan, MVA strongly opposes the idea, saying it contradicts efforts to market the CNMI as a destination for the well-heeled.
MVA managing director Chris Concepcion said that, besides the unsightly view of having a trailer park in what is being marketed overseas as a premium high-end beach resort destination, one of the many concerns associated with trailers are their safety.
“The trailers are made of metal. When another storm comes, those trailers would be completely destroyed, turned into garbage, and blown out into the ocean. That is not what we want as a destination,” said Concepcion.
“It is not in line with the promotion efforts of MVA to encourage tourists to visit the CNMI,” he added.
He encourages regulatory agencies with oversight over such establishments to “come together as one and critically analyze projects that could hamper [MVAs] efforts in promoting the CNMI overseas.”
“[Visitors should] go to the beach resorts. That is the appeal of the Marianas, its surrounding nature,” he said.
