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Rota to pursue its share of Chinese tourists
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Posted on May 09 2005
Rota Mayor Benjamin T. Manglona and two other officials will be leaving this weekend for a one-week trip to China to promote tourism and business investment to the island.
Manglona will be traveling with Department of Commerce-Rota resident director Martin Manglona and the department’s economic adviser Thomas Mendiola. The three will leave on Friday, May 13, and are expected to be back on May 20.
During their trip, the Rota officials will meet with the mayors of, and establish partnerships with, four Chinese cities: Guangzhou, Xiamen, Zhonjiang, and Shanghai.
“I am very eager to take this trip to open tourism and business opportunities for the island of Rota. Rather than waiting for one more year to promote Rota to China travelers and investors, we want to do it now. We strongly feel that we are ready now…to welcome and receive Chinese visitors to our…island,” Manglona said in a statement.
One key to improving Rota’s standing as a destination for Chinese tourists, he said, is to establish airline service connecting China, Tinian, and Rota.
“This will create a new tour option in line with the Bisita Marianas concept. The direct flights to Tinian linked to Rota will provide tourists the opportunity to enjoy the glitter and glamour of casino gambling on Tinian, then hop on a short flight to the tranquility and nature on Rota,” he said.
Manglona added that his group would also attempt to explore ways that Rota and the Chinese cities could benefit from the establishment of a “sister city friendship treaty.”
“By establishing sister-city relationships between our two countries, we can forge the way to promote cultural exchanges, education, trade, and other activities in aid of commercial prosperity and social enrichment,” Manglona said. “We can engage in scientific research studies in marine science, exploration of our ocean and underwater resources, aquaculture and agriculture development, plus many other means to bring cultural and economic enrichment of mutual benefit.”
Martin Mendiola, Rota resident director for Commerce, said the China trip would provide an opportunity for the Rota officials to explore available technology for the island’s food processing industry.
