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OIA grants $35K for ecotourism meeting
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Posted on Feb 21 2000
The Office of Insular Affairs granted a $35,000 funding for the scheduled ecotourism symposium to be held on the island-municipality of Rota.
While ecotourism is a relatively undeveloped form of travel in the CNMI and the Micronesian region, the OIA is supporting such efforts because it is in line with the Department of Interior’s economic development initiative for all the United States territories.
In expressing support for the conference, OIA Director Danny Aranza said in a press release he believes that this type of tourism will help in the region’s development as it also involves the proper use of natural resources.
“This relatively new brand of travel certainly must offer the visitor an opportunity to interact with nature in such a way as to make it possible to preserve or enhance the special qualities of the site and its flora and fauna, while allowing local inhabitants and future visitors to continue to enjoy these qualities,” said Mr. Aranza.
Some 100 delegates from the CNMI and neighboring Micronesian islands are expected to attend the ecotourism symposium to be held on Feb. 28-March 3, 2000.
Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona said his municipality has always been promoting the island as an ecotourism destination focusing on the unique attractions of Rota. He emphasized the need for a sustainable development in enticing investors and visitors to come to the island.
Experts in the field of eco and heritage tourism will be arriving to share their views on how a destination can shift to this type of tourism which has steadily grown over the years.
The conference will focus on strategies facing ecotourism which is widely believed to be the best method of promoting both sustainability and development.
Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, director of the CNMI’s Historic, John Reynolds, director of the National Park Service of the Pacific West Region and other federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service have pledged support to develop this type of tourism.
