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MVA eyes transfer of Garapan Street Market to private sector
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Posted on Mar 01 2000
With the success and popularity of the Garapan Street Market, the Marianas Visitors Authority is now planning to slowly leave it to the hands of the private sector.
MVA Board Chair Dave M. Sablan said it is time for the committee that organized the street market to take over the job so that the tourism office can concentrate on its promotional task.
Organized late last year by members of the private sector to revive the ailing tourism industry, the night market held every Thursday has made Garapan a favorite place among residents.
Garapan, the island’s main tourist district, has seen a drastic decline in business activity as a result of the plunge in tourist arrivals. Except for the clubs and karaoke bars, a number of stores in the tourist area have already closed shop since last year.
Since it was a private sector initiative, MVA provided initial seed money for advertisement and hiring of entertainers.
The street market became a venue for farmers, fishermen and entrepreneurs to sell their products to tourists and residents. It was also meant to expand the current tourist market base the businesses currently enjoy.
Organizers of the Garapan Street Market have envisioned a market that is similar to those seen around the world — clean, safe, easy to set up and the area wide enough for people to walk along and view the items on display.
While he has strongly opposed the thought of having unregulated roadside businesses due to health and safety reasons, Mayor Jose C. Sablan supported the activity to help revive the ailing tourism economy.
