‘EVS-TAP could hamper return of China market’

The CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP, which was initially seen as a saving grace for the CNMI’s tourism industry, may now hamper the return of the China market which was supposed to be forthcoming with the return of Hong Kong Airlines.

Last week, Hong Kong Airlines and the CNMI celebrated the former’s inaugural flight back to Saipan after a five-year hiatus.

The airline’s return was seen as hope for the CNMI’s tourism industry as it would provide tourists from the PROC a flight from the region directly to Saipan.

However, in an interview with Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Joe C. Guerrero, visa-free travel for tourists from the People’s Republic of China traveling to Saipan on a Hong Kong Airlines flight might only possible until August as the implementation of the EVS-TAP would not apply to tourists from the PROC unless they are traveling on a direct flight from the PROC to Saipan.

“There is a demand in China to travel. The population is so large and they are traveling everywhere but the CNMI because we don’t have direct flights. Hong Kong Airlines is a nice addition but then again, it’s a drop in the bucket. Everything helps but that flight schedule will only be until August because EVS-TAP, when it is implemented in September, my understanding is that they will not allow tourists from PROC to travel to get a flight from Hong Kong to the CNMI. The EVS-TAP would only allow a direct flight from the PROOC and not through Hong Kong. So, the Hong Kong Airlines is a stop-gap strategy from now until when the EVS-TAP is implemented in September,” Guerrero explained.

Guerrero said an exemption from the U.S.-China flight cap is the only viable option for the CNMI’s tourism industry as this ensures the return of the China market.

“We hope by September, we have some indication of an exemption of the direct flights from China to the CNMI. I know Congressman Gregorio Kilili Sablan has met with U.S. Department of Transportation recently and are working hard to work with them to give us the exemption we had prior to COVID. We are hopeful but things are moving slow for many businesses, and we feel for them,” he said.

Back in January, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a ruling that paves the way to create the EVS-TAP.

The EVS-TAP would essentially allow visa-free travel for pre-screened travelers from China to the CNMI, much like the current discretionary parole program in place.

According to the interim final ruling issued recently, DHS amends its regulations to require persons intending to travel to the CNMI under the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program to submit Form I-736 electronically in advance of travel and receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a flight to Guam or the CNMI.

Under the current visa waiver program regulations, a paper U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form I-736 is presented to Customs and Border Protection upon arrival.

This rule also establishes the EVS-TAP as a restricted sub-program of the G–CNMI VWP.

DHS notes that the program is being established based on recommendations pursuant to consultations between the United States and the CNMI under Section 902 of the Covenant to establish the CNMI in Political Union with the United States of America.

“Once implemented, the CNMI EVS-TAP will allow pre-screened nationals of the PROC to travel to the CNMI without a visa under specified conditions,” DHS stated in its order.

The CNMI EVS-TAP was first proposed in 2019 and aims to enhance security measures while ensuring the orderly entry of PRC nationals for tourism purposes.

The proposed EVS-TAP program involves electronic screening, a maximum 14-day stay, and additional security measures for PROC nationals.