MVA: Tourists wait 3 to 4 hours or more

The Marianas Visitors Authority expressed concern yesterday over what it described as the long wait of tourists as they line up for immigration clearance.

According to MVA managing director Chris Concepcion, tourists wait in line for immigration clearance for three to four hours on peak days.

“This is unacceptable for us as a beach resort destination. It is ruining the tourist experience immediately upon arrival and projecting a very damaging image of the Marianas,” said Concepcion, adding that tourists are often accompanied by infants, children, and the elderly in the middle of the night with limited to no seating at all.

“It is an absolute outrage that this is happening in the CNMI. [Tourists are] waiting in line longer than it takes to fly to Tokyo, which is only three hoursm [away],” he added.

Concepcion recognizes that this issue is due to Customs and Border Protection’s lack of manpower. Congress has limited the number of CBP personnel in the CNMI to only 20 and the CNMI government has no control over this lack.

“From our meetings with CBP, we understand they are capped at 20 for the whole CNMI, with four on long-term leave, and two about to leave permanently in a couple months, leaving them with 14 total staff to handle thousands of incoming passengers everyday on a 24-hour schedule,” he said.

MVA board member Jerry Tan brought the issue up during Monday’s MVA board meeting, to which members agreed that the wait is too long.

MVA board member Kwang Joong Kim said that he has also been receiving complaints about the long wait time.

“The tourists tell me they came here to spend money and feel unwelcome [due to the long lines]”, said Kim.

MVA is currently drafting a letter for Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) regarding the CBP issue, since the personnel limit was imposed by the U.S. Congress.

According to Concepcion’s statement, the cap was set by Congress due to budgetary concerns. He added that emergency exemptions can surely be made for the CNMI but specifically through an act of Congress.

“The MVA is sounding the alarm right now that if the ridiculously long waits at CBP continue, it will have damaging effects on the tourism industry long-term,” said Concepcion.

He said other beach resorts in the Asia-Pacific region do not have long wait times, which makes the CNMI seem “less competitive.”

Still, despite he lack of manpower, Concepcion commends the efforts of the CBP for their continued services.

“We do want to extend our thanks to all CBP officers for working their hardest under these circumstances, with limited staff, long working hours, and odd shifts,” he said.

“We know their issues are at the mercy of policy makers in Washington,” he added. “Something must be done before it is too late.”