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DPL decision very negative to Japanese investors
The Japan Saipan Travel Association has expressed strong support over Kan Pacific Saipan entering into a new lease agreement with the Commonwealth government.
JSTA president Masaru Sunaga said that if Marianas Resort loses its land lease, it will give a negative look to future Japanese investors.
Kan Pacific owns the Marpi hotel.
“It is a disregarded decision because they [Marianas Resort] want to continue business. With the Department of Public Lands recent decision in soliciting competitive bids, JSTA wants to go against that decision,” Sunaga said.
“Already over 10 years the Japan market is slow, only last minute the Japan economy is going back little by little, this time CNMI still has chance for investors from Japan, but DPL decision is a very negative impact for Japanese investors,” he added.
Even as the Korea and China markets are up, Sunaga expressed concern what will happen to the CNMI tourism industry if the China market suddenly stops, for example, and it will only be left with the Korea market.
He said equaling out the percentage output of tourists from different source countries will stabilize the local tourism industry.
“The CNMI still has chance for Japanese investors but no one wants to invest in the CNMI because if Marianas Resort will lose everything, no one will want it. All investors—not only Japan—don’t like risks,” Sunaga said.
“Japanese investors might be very low, now the tourism industry here is not healthy. The number of Korean and Chinese tourists is getting higher but Japanese market is now very small only 15 to 20 percent, so the CNMI should think to equalize the market,” he added.
“It is not healthy so CNMI should think about getting back Japanese tourist, we still have chance, but with the recent decision it is not possible. Now people forecast airline and air seat, we think about more on airlines from Japan, but we need investors from Japan. Because if the Japanese investors are strong here, then Japanese tourists will come. If the CNMI thinks about getting back [the] Japan [market], we must think about the investors,” Sunaga said.
