BUDGET BATTLE MVA: Reduced appropriation will hurt marketing campaign

Marianas Visitors Authority Board Chair Dave M. Sablan yesterday cautioned legislators against making any cut in the promotional budget of the tourism agency for FY 2001 because it will jeopardize efforts to revive the island’s ailing tourism economy.

The Senate has cut the appropriation for MVA by more than $1 million for the creation of separate offices for each of the islands of Rota and Tinian. MVA received close to $6 million in funding in Fiscal Year 2000 which tourism officials claimed was not enough to carry out its promotional activities. At Wednesday’s Senate session, MVA’s $6 million budget for FY 2001 was further reduced by the upper chamber to $4.9 million.

In establishing separate MVA offices for the two other islands, the Senate gave the First Senatorial District (Rota) a total appropriation of $515,900 and provided the Second Senatorial District (Tinian) $574,100.

Mr. Sablan said he will ask the governor to veto the budget cut on MVA if the proposed measure will be approved by the Legislature.

“I don’t know how else can we work together when the money is split. Does it mean that Rota and Tinian will go out and look for promotional efforts? What then will be the role of the MVA main office? These are questions which need answers right away because we are dealing with our main source of livelihood,” said Mr. Sablan.

Mr. Sablan said MVA is already doing its best to promote the CNMI abroad and cutting the promotional budget, and by giving it to Rota and Tinian will only make it difficult for them to do effectively the job.

MVA has already spent $420,000 for the island of Rota as of Sept. 30, 2000. On the island of Tinian, MVA’s expenses plus encumbrances already reached $292,383 covering the previous fiscal year.

Legislators from Rota and Tinian wanted separate budgets for their island-municipalities because they were not satisfied with the way MVA is promoting the two senatorial districts focusing mostly their efforts on the island of Saipan.

Tourism officials wanted an $8 million in funds for FY 2001 so that it can improve its marketing campaigns. An additional $8 million is needed to fund Capital Improvement Projects of MVA to refurbish tourist sites on the island-municipalities of Saipan, Tinian and Rota

Mr. Sablan dismissed criticisms that MVA has failed in its marketing efforts saying the decline in tourist arrivals was primarily brought about by factors beyond their control.

“We have no control of the economic situation that the world is facing. We are doing everything to promote the islands in our own little way. Unfortunately, they seem to be telling us that we are not doing an equitable job in promoting Saipan, Tinian and Rota,” he added. (Lindablue F. Romero)