CNMI ADS agreement not yet signed

The CNMI’s Approved Destination Status with China remains unofficial because it has yet to be formally signed by China’s State Council.

In an interview yesterday, Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino general manager Tom Liu said there is no word yet as to when the agreement can be officially signed.

“We’re hoping to have it signed very soon. We were expecting that it would take place sometime this month, about the end of this month but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen,” he said.

In this case, he said, CNMI’s status remains unofficial.

“It’s not really official because it’s not signed yet. The State Council, which is the equivalent of U.S. State Department, has to officially approve it. Basically, it’s not a problem,” he said.

He said the CNMI is now reviewing a memorandum of understanding governing the Chinese tourists’ stay in the CNMI. Essentially, he said, such agreement is “very, very generous.”

“It asks that tourists be treated fairly,” he said.

On Oct. 13, CNMI Gov. Juan N. Babauta, together with Liu and TDHC chair Michael Kwan, announced that the People’s Republic of China’s National Tourism Administration had approved the CNMI’s ADS application.

Babauta said that he received a letter from CNTA informing him about the ADS.

“It’s nearly one year after you first wrote to my chairman [He Guanghei]. Now, I am honored to inform you that the State Council [of PROC] has approved to grant the status to your Commonwealth,” said CNTA director-general for marketing and communications department Shen Huirong in a letter.

Kwan, an economic advisor to Babauta on China, said the letter was the fruit of three year’s hard work.

Liu, meantime, said they had requested to move the agreement signing from Beijing to Shanghai during a travel fair late this month. But since no confirmation has been made yet, the possibility remains remote.

“It could have been a maximum exposure for all vendors and buyers because it’s the biggest annual travel fair in China,” he said. He said the fair is set on Nov. 25 to 28.

The ADS is a major incentive for the CNMI since it serves as guide for Chinese tourists when making travel choices. Chinese tourists are able to travel to ADS countries more easily as part of pre-organized tour groups. Liu said that the granting of ADS allows the CNMI to openly advertise in China.

Right now, the Marianas Visitors Authority currently maintains three offices in China for CNMI marketing and promotions.

The CNMI’s ADS application was reportedly recommended for approval by CNTA chair He, who visited the CNMI in early 2003.