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MVA to evaluate source markets
The Marianas Visitors Authority has created five ad hoc committees to evaluate the feasibility of travel resumption from major sources markets.
The MVA board of directors voted last Friday, Aug. 6, to create ad hoc committees for Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and Korea, which already has a Travel Bubble arrangement with the Marianas.
“Now that we have a solid plan and the infrastructure is in place for receiving visitors from Korea, it’s time to look at whether similar plans would be feasible with other markets,” said MVA board chair Viola Alepuyo. “The process to test and quarantine all arriving tourists is approved by the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and COVID-19 Task Force because our first and primary goal is keeping the community safe. The process to test and quarantine our arriving tourists is strict. However, it is imperative not to rely on only Korea in restoring our Marianas tourism industry. When Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ends next month, we want as many people as possible back to work and able to provide for their families, so we will be looking at other markets.”
The MVA appointed Tommy Kim, a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, as the chairperson for the Korea Ad Hoc Committee. Additional chairpersons will be appointed, and MVA members are invited to serve on the Ad Hoc Committees. The committees will be responsible for communicating with travel trade partners and governments in the respective markets to gather information that will help the ad hoc committee determine if the Marianas should pursue the market.
The MVA plans to meet with the Department of Finance to review potential funding for the program through the American Rescue Plan Act, which funds the ongoing Tourism Resumption Investment Plan program with Korea. The program provides subsidies to airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and related businesses to help jumpstart tourism, the Marianas’ primary economic driver. At this time, three flights a week arrive in Saipan from Seoul-Incheon under the program. (PR)
