Japanese firm wants to develop old Rota hotel

A check on the Office of Public Lands revealed that a Japanese company has expressed interest in developing an abandoned hotel in Rota.

Public Lands Administrator Bertha C. Leon Guerrero yesterday revealed her office has also received an inquiry to develop an area where the Pau Pau Hotel in Rota used to stand.

This is in addition to the proposal submitted by Life Up Inc., also a Japanese corporation, which has proposed to construct an 18-hole golf course on Tinian.

Ms. Leon Guerrero said the Japanese company called her office and asked about the procedure on how to lease the abandoned site that sits in government property.

The Office of Public Lands is still awaiting the response of the Japanese company on the leasing procedure.

Officials have said that any sign of infrastructure development is essential in further propping up the island’s tourism industry, which has experienced tremendous decline in terms of visitor arrival.

In financial year 2000, a total of 9,826 tourists arrived on Rota. Last month, visitor arrivals jumped an amazing 69 percent from 674 in February last year to 1,139 in February 2001.

The interest in the Pau Pau Hotel area, follows a proposal from Japanese company Life Up to initially build an 18-hole golf course on the island of Tinian.

Henry Hoffschneider, Deputy Administrator of the Office of Public Lands, said Life Up’s proposal has been approved in concept by the office’s board of directors.

The board’s consent opens up preliminary discussions with the Japanese company and its local partner, Tenorio and Associates.

According to Mr. Hoffschneider, Life Up has expressed interest in developing the land north of the West Tinian International Airport.

Ms. Leon Guerrero also revealed that her office is still determining the tract of government land available for leasing on the island.

She and Mr. Hoffschneider said Life Up’s proposal also hinges on a number of factors.

The public lands administrator said the proposed golf course should veer away from such areas as the Tinian dumpsite, cemetery and the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation’s power plant.

At the same time, Ms. Leon Guerrero disclosed Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino also approached her last year and inquired about the possibility of setting up another 18-hole golf course on the island.

The US Armed Forces used to lease more than half of government land on Tinian. However, the past few years have seen the Office of Public Land buy back some of the land, according to Mr. Hoffschneider.

Under the law, the Office of Public Lands could only lease up to five hectares of government land for 25 years.

However, the office can lease property in excess of that area and duration if approved by the CNMI Legislature.