MVA keeps bullish outlook on tourism

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry John Tenorio yesterday assured travel professionals and media representatives from Japan that the Northern Marianas is a safe destination for tourists as CNMI officials continue to create and maintain better facilities to ensure that guests enjoy their stay on the island.

Although the CNMI has been affected by the ongoing crisis in the Asian region, MVA believes that the future of tourism in the commonwealth remains bright. Only three hours away from Japan, the island will remain an attractive destination for Japanese travelers because of its tropical climate and crystal clear waters, Tenorio said.

Travel agents and media representatives are currently on island attending the three-day seminar under the Fourth Marianas Tourism Academy program. The promotional tour is sponsored by MVA in cooperation with JAL Group of Companies.

In a session with the visiting Japanese journalists, MVA board chairman Dave M. Sablan urged them to help promote the Northern Marianas in Japan to attract more Japanese investors in the CNMI.

Investments in water park, walk through aquarium, cable ride to the top of the hill and nature trail on Rota island, to name a few, are badly needed, he said.

The people of the Northern Marianas have a much closer affinity with the Japanese due to Japan’s strong influence before and after World War II. “Because of the long standing ties with Japan, the Japanese people feel comfortable doing business here,” Sablan said.

Japanese travellers accounted for 75 percent of the total visitor arrivals of 526,298 in 1998. Most large hotels and golf courses on the island are owned by Japanese.

Recently, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio signed into law a new category of non immigrant status will be included in the Commonwealth Entry and Deportation Act implemented in 1983 to allow alien retirees residency in the CNMI through the Foreign Retiree Investment Certificate.

Retirees over 55 years of age can apply for non immigrant status provided they have invested and maintained a minimum of $150,000 in an approved residence in the commonwealth. This new law specifically targets retirees from Japan.

Although the current room inventory is already close to 4,000 on the islands of Rota, Tinian and Saipan, MVA is hoping that some 2,000 rooms would still be added.

To ensure the safety of the growing scuba diving community, emergency cellular telephones have been purchased in cooperation with the Northern Mariana Diving Operators Association and the Japan-Saipan Travel Association to be used in popular dive areas, Tenorio said.

He said the Department of Public Safety has uniformed police officers stationed at a satellite office in the Garapan area on a 24 hour basis.

When they go back to Japan, Tenorio said he hopes the participants will bring back a higher level of understanding and knowledge about Saipan as a special destination in the Pacific.