More warning signs eyed on Forbidden Island

People say that there is a reason why this island is called Forbidden Island. “Educating our tourists on the do’s and don’ts about the destinations on Saipan is on our list of priorities,” said Chris Concepcion, managing director of Marianas Visitors Authority. (Bea Cabrera)

The Marianas Visitors Authority is looking at putting up “No Swimming” signs at Forbidden Island after yet another drowning incident over the weekend.

MVA managing director Chris Concepcion said the recent drowning at the Kagman spot is a big concern to the islands’ tourism agency.

“We will look into installing more signs in addition to what’s there now to provide visitors with rules and advice for Forbidden Island,” he said.

Aside from travel advice, tips, and recommendation to all the visitors they bring there, tour guides should also tell their clients about the dangers of venturing out to perilous areas like Forbidden Island.

“We plan to work with all tour guides and operators to ensure visitors are educated and informed of all dangers at particular sites,” said Concepcion.

The tricky part is related to free independent travelers, or FITs, who plan their own itinerary around Saipan based on travel books and recommendations from the internet and, in doing so, may fail to get inside information on what to do and not do in a particular destination.

“This is a bit tricky to handle because FITs have no guides with them when they tour the islands. All guidebooks, TV spots, and ads that MVA pays for provide tips for Forbidden Island and other popular sites,” Concepcion said.

MVA could only do so much to warn this category of travelers since hiking to places like Forbidden Island is not against the law.

“It is not illegal to go down to Forbidden [Island], so there is little we can do to prevent adventurists from hiking down… MVA has been doing its part in promoting safe travels among our tourists as we pay for TV airtime 24 hours a day, guidebooks printed in all source market languages, and signs at all sites needing them,” Concepcion added.

He said that MVA works closely with the Department of Public Safety, Department of Fire Emergency and Medical Services and other partners to educate tourists on the dangers that may occur at Forbidden Island. 

“We will aggressively work with tour operators, travel agencies, and airlines in each source country to educate visitors prior to arrival in the CNMI. …We ask everyone…to help out by providing guidance to people,” he said.

The MVA managing director said tourism is everybody’s business and so does saving someone’s life and implored the community to get the word out to tourists that hiking and then swimming in the waters off Forbidden Island is dangerous.

“We need to work together. It’s always a sad day in the CNMI when we lose a life,” he added.

Last Friday, a 25-year-old male Korean tourist was swept by big waves and dragged into the open sea while swimming with three companions.

Last month, another Korean tourist, a woman, drowned at Forbidden Island, while her husband was swept to the open ocean and wasn’t found.