Fitial in China for a week this time

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial left yesterday morning for Shanghai, China, on a personal trip that will also include attending a tourism conference set for yesterday and the launching of additional charter flights to the CNMI on Thursday, the administration said. This comes less than two weeks after Fitial returned from New Caledonia on official business.

Press secretary Angel Demapan said that Fitial is on personal leave and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos is the acting governor until Fitial’s return at the end of the week.

“Although Governor Fitial is on a non-government funded travel, he plans to attend a tourism related conference that will be promoting the CNMI as a tourist destination for Chinese travelers,” Demapan said.

While the governor is in Shanghai, “Fitial will also make himself available to any investors that may express interest to do business in the CNMI.”

“In these challenging times, Governor Fitial continues to embrace all potential investments that will prove beneficial to enhancing and reinvigorating our ailing economy,” he added.

The governor also received an invitation on Friday from Century Tours-Shanghai and Tinian Dynasty Hotel to the Sept. 22 launching of additional charter flights from Shanghai to the CNMI via Sichuan Airlines.

Demapan said that Fitial arranged his trip in order to also have time to attend the tourism conference yesterday. “So since he is already there ahead of this opportune flight launch, the governor also plans to attend this event.”

Travels since January

When asked about the administration’s response to criticism that Fitial’s off island trips have become too frequent, Demapan said when the governor is off island, “he’s taking care of official business that is critical to the CNMI.” These include meeting with federal officials and luring investors to the CNMI.

Fitial returned from New Caledonia on Sept. 6, after backing the CNMI’s bid to host the 2017 Mini Games. The CNMI lost to Vanuatu.

In August, he went to Alaska and California.

That trip came barely two weeks after the governor returned from almost a month of off-island trips for personal and official business in Japan, the U.S. mainland and Pohnpei in July.

On Feb. 22, Fitial left for Washington, D.C. on official business up until early March, when he went on medical leave in California.

In January, Fitial left for Hong Kong and Taiwan.