Previous Story
Investors propose clinic for Japanese
|
Posted on Jan 08 1999
A group of Japanese investors met with two key government officials yesterday to discuss a proposal to convert the Royal Taga Hotel into a clinic to cater to the elderly Japanese in the CNMI.
The plan is expected to drive up tourist arrivals from Japan and resuscitate the ailing CNMI tourist industry.
The investors, whose company was not known as of press time, made initial discussions with Marianas Visitors Authority board Chairman David M. Sablan and Health Secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez. Their meeting was closed to the press.
Sablan said Diamond Hotel was willing to finance the project since Royal Taga Hotel is within its property.
“That hotel (Royal Taga) is still there intact. They are trying to find use for it to generate some revenue for the hotel. So, they came up with the idea to use it to conduct some medical observations and I guess other medical services to senior Japanese citizens,” he told Saipan Tribune.
He added: “The assumption was that senior citizens with some illnesses may get better or be cured by moving to the CNMI. Our air is clean. The ocean water is clean. Some of these cures can be accomplished by having these people swim into the ocean and breathe the clean air that we have here.”
Sablan said the elderly Japanese are expected to stay in the CNMI for at least two weeks for the medical treatment. Their visit is seen as a boon to tourism because they are likely to be accompanied by family members or even their own doctors or nurses.
“We thought this is also a way by which we can increase tourist arrivals. If they have to stay here two or three weeks or longer, some of the children might also come,” Sablan said.
“A lot of people who are ill are having difficulty going to hospitals in Japan. Therefore, the whole idea was to move the clinic to the CNMI. Some of the illnesses that they have might be better treated here because the weather is better.”
Sablan said Villagomez did not object to the plan, provided Japanese doctors observe U.S. medical standards.
