MVA may cut subsidy to Garapan Street Market

The Marianas Visitors Authority must slowly remove the financial support it is giving to Garapan Street Market so that the tourism agency can concentrate on its promotional campaign.

MVA Board Chair Dave M. Sablan said there is a need to review the price of concession and promote the street market more to local people amid the slowdown in the island’s tourism economy.

Every week, MVA spends about $2,500 to pay for expenses of r the night market held every Thursday, including rent of tents and hiring of musicians. Payment from vendors, concessionaires only amounts to $1,000 a week.

“We have to cut the umbilical cord at a certain point. We cannot go on subsidizing this forever,” Mr. Sablan said. He said it is time for the private sector committee that organized the street market to take over the job.

Since it was a private sector initiative, MVA provided initial seed money for advertisement and hiring of entertainers.

But Jack Hardy, who is in charge of publicity and promotions for the Street Market committee, said there is a need to continue subsidy on the project since it has attracted regular customers every Thursday evening. He said the Japanese tour operators have earlier said that they will not be able to support the Street Market for the next six months.

Roda Smith, member of the organizing committee of the Street Market project, urged MVA to continue its support saying it is premature to cut its funding at this time.

Organized late last year by members of the private sector to revive the ailing tourism industry, the street market has made Garapan a favorite place among residents.

MVA Board Member Mark Murai recommended the use of the visitor’s channel to feature the street market for more exposure to Japanese tourists and would eventually help the committee get more advertisers.

Garapan, the island’s main tourist district, has seen a drastic decline in business activity as a result of the plunge in tourist arrivals. Except for night clubs and karaoke bars, a number of stores in the tourist area have already closed shop since last year.

The street market became a venue for farmers, fishermen and entrepreneurs to sell their products to tourists and residents. The project also hoped to expand the current tourist market base the businesses currently enjoy.

Organizers of the Garapan Street Market have envisioned a market that is similar to those seen around the world — clean, safe, easy to set up and the area wide enough for people to walk along and view the items on display. (Lindablue F. Romero)