Tinian gets more casino offers from investors

Tinian — Saying there is so much hope in developing Tinian as a tourist destination, a Taiwanese businessman and two Hong Kong investors expressed interest in setting up another casino and fast-track the airport expansion.

Henry Yang and Thomas L. Wong, directors of the South Pacific Overseas Investments Ltd., said their group will charter flights from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong to regularly bring in visitors to Saipan.

Mr. Yang said the biggest stumbling block in enticing more investors to come to the CNMI is the slow development of West Tinian Airport to accommodate bigger aircraft. The Commonwealth Ports Authority has already solicited proposals for the construction of a 7,800 linear-foot asphalt concrete runway and an 8,600 linear-foot runway.

Chen Yu Chang, president of Everbright Mutual Fund Group in Taipei, said he is willing to create a financial package that will ensure the full development of West Tinian Airport in two years. Mr. Chen was responsible in constructing an international airport in Kenya, Nairobi in 1993.

“When the airport has been completed, more investors will come to establish a golf course, water park and another hotel. You have to understand that not everybody is a gambler so you need more tourist attractions,” he said. The group met with the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, and the local leaders last week where they explored investment possibilities.

This developed as the Tinian political leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding with businessman Michael Gardiner, president of Phoenix Metal, to develop a master plan for the island-municipality without any cost to the local government in exchange for the grant of a casino license.

According to TCGCC Chairman Martin DLG San Nicolas, the U.S. investor has already sent a team on the island to assess its infrastructure needs.

“We are happy that they are now giving Tinian a second look after a long time .We hope we can get this thing moving as soon as possible,” he said.

Amid plans to put in more investments on the island including the establishment of a casino, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino welcomed such plans as it will help stimulate the tourism economy.

The only casino hotel on the island opened in 1998 at a time when Asia was plunged into an economic crisis which resulted in the decline of the island’s tourism economy.

With the decision of Continental Airlines to cut off direct service from various Asian destinations to Saipan, the hotels found most of their rooms empty as visitor arrivals plummeted.

“We are still surviving and we expect things to improve further with the new charter flights,” said Tom Liu, general manager of Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.

Tinian Dynasty has no doubt contributed in the huge jump of visitor arrivals in Tinian from 10,000 in 1997 to 155,000 in 1999.

Mandarin Airlines began its maiden flight last Friday providing Taipei-Saipan direct service. The twice a week service of Mandarin Air is expected to boost visitor arrivals, which has continuously declined since the region’s economy was severely affected in July 1997.

“We really hope they will develop Tinian by putting in water parks, golf course to put more value to the island as a destination,” said Mr. Liu.