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Sablan resigns from MVA Board
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Posted on Nov 25 1999
Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands president Ron D. Sablan has resigned as board member of the Marianas Visitors Authority.
“I have decided that it is necessary for me to step down and concentrate on the implementation of HANMI’s objectives into the new millennium and specifically spend more time and energy into managing my family-owned Pacific Gardenia Hotel,” the HANMI chief said in his resignation letter addressed to Board Chair Dave M. Sablan.
But sources privy to Mr. Sablan’s resignation said the hotel owner quit because of irreconcilable differences with tourism officials regarding policies on how to market the Northern Marianas as a vacation site.
The HANMI president has been very vocal about his criticisms on various issues relating to the tourism industry. Such critical stance has stirred disagreement within the board and provoked heated discussions at times.
MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio said he is saddened by the resignation of Mr. Sablan in the board since he has been supportive of the industry. “I respect his decision and wish him luck,” Mr. Tenorio said.
Mr. Sablan has strongly criticized the constant changes on local laws and regulations which he said have dulled CNMI’s attraction as an investment hub –– an observation shared by hotel executives in the island.
His description of the current business climate: “a triangle that has us trapped and choking for air.” Mr. Sablan urged Legislators to draw up ways to stabilize the investment climate by making laws investor-friendly.
In a bid to provide direction to the island’s half-a-billion tourism industry, Mr. Sablan has always believed that a tourism master plan must be in place to help guide MVA officials in marketing the CNMI and carrying out infrastructure developments.
He described the Visit the Marianas ’99 Campaign as a short-term solution to the ailing industry.
According to Mr. Sablan, tourism officials should take the current slowdown in tourism business as an opportunity to draw up and implement plans to help prepare the CNMI to be more competitive, especially when the Asian economy bounces back.
