CNMI hosts 1st PATA Micronesia conference in Marianas since 2018

The CNMI is hosting the first Pacific Asia Travel Association-Micronesia Chapter conference it has had since 2018.

Starting last Wednesday, the CNMI hosted the PATA Micronesia Chapter’s Tri-Annual Meeting at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan with the goal of strengthening regional tourism industry partnerships and collaborations. The meeting will end today.

Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang joined the chapter yesterday in its general membership meeting that is being organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority.

In addressing PATA representatives from Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Japan, the Marshall Islands, and the CNMI, Palacios underscored the challenges, especially obstacles in air service, and opportunities facing all the island nations and territories.

He also stressed the need to protect and conserve island environments while growing and developing tourism industries across Micronesia.

“We want to welcome the PATA members here to the CNMI after not having this conference in so long. We look forward to having this conference again. It’s good to have this organization come here so we can see where we’re at as far as tourism is concerned,” said Apatang.

After hearing presentations led by tourism bureau representatives from Guam and the Marshall Islands, Apatang said it’s good to see how other islands in Micronesia are working on rebuilding their tourism industries after the pandemic.

“I want to say thank you to PATA for visiting. It’s always good to have this kind of conference so we can work together as one Micronesia and, of course, as one Marianas…to encourage visitors to come visit us. Tourism deals a lot with promotion. We need to encourage more promotion and we need to go out and present ourselves. We can be smart and do what we can to promote the Commonwealth. We have a lot of places to promote here in the CNMI,” he said.

MVA managing director Chris Concepcion said he is excited that the CNMI is hosting PATA Micronesia’s first conference since the pandemic. “We are very excited to welcome our neighbours from Micronesia to the Marianas,” he said.

When asked what his main takeaway was, Concepcion said it’s that everyone across Micronesia is struggling to rebuild their tourism industries.

“We are all facing similar challenges. None of us are at pre-COVID levels in terms of visitor arrivals. Guam is also down 40%, so we all face the same challenges in terms of bringing the numbers back up from pre-COVID levels,” he said.

The mission of PATA-Micronesia Chapter is to assist in the development of the regional tourism industry with strategies that are environmentally sensitive, respect Micronesian cultures, adhere to high operational standards and provide opportunities for education, training and gainful employment among Micronesian residents.