‘Discover Pagan’ project proposed to MVA board

Northern Islands mayor Jerome Aldan presented to the Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors their “Discover Pagan” project which aims to develop Pagan as an ecotourism site. Aldan said he needs the support of MVA as well as funding to hopefully begin the project this year. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Pagan as the next adventure destination attraction in the Marianas—this is the goal of Northern Islands Mayor Jerome Aldan as he presented possible tourism projects that could be developed on the said island before the Marianas Visitors Authority.

Aldan showcased various sites on Pagan that could be ecotourism attractions.

Aside from cliffs and highpoints that could be hiked, Pagan also has a lone white sand beach and various black sand beaches.

“Besides the sceneries of Pagan, Pagan offers the adventure of a lifetime,” Aldan said.

He added that Pagan abounds with wild pigs, open cattle, colorful birds, fruit bats, and giant coconut crabs and lobsters.

Aldan also said that Pagan has a small remote fishing community, which aside from hiking and going to beach, can be another activity option.

“That can be the steering and driving force for island goers such as cliff fishing, diving,” Aldan said.

He also mentioned trips that were made by several cruise liners to Pagan including another one in June 17 to 19 for the Konferencian Dinana Islas Marianas organizaed by the Association for the Mariana Island Mayors were there will be 100 participants from the CNMI and Guam.

Aldan sought the MVA board’s help in funding the project and gave a “realistic figure” of $152,950 to fund some of the initial beautification projects that they proposed. This includes buying gear and supplies, equipment, construction materials, landscaping, putting up signs, rehabilitation and restoration, floating dock construction, and transportation of the materials.

“In order for me to move forward with these plans, I need the help of MVA as far as tourism is concerned,” Aldan said.

“It’s time for discovery and adventure is ripe for MVA’s consideration for active marketing and promotion,” he added.

Aldan said tourism in Pagan could be more of a high-end tourism and they are also thinking of bringing agents and operators to conduct a study tour of what is the possibility of bringing tourists in Pagan.

He added that they’ve been working on this proposal as early as five years ago, but that action shoud be done soon. He said he hopes to start the project this year.

“That proposal dates back even as far the former mayor, my dad, Tobias Aldan,” Aldan said, “We’ve laid the foundation. We’ve been talking back and forth and we need to do something and this is the right time to do it.”