To entice more airlines Rota businessmen seek immediate repair of airport
An official of the tourism association of Rota yesterday asked urged the immediate repair of Rota International Airport so that the island-municipality can convince airlines to provide regular service.
Julian Calvo, president of the Hospitality and Tourism Association said the lack of international direct flights there is the major cause of the continuous plunge in tourist arrivals.
“It is the biggest setback because without the international flights, there are very few airline seats available,” said Calvo, adding that only interisland carriers are serving the island now.
The Commonwealth Ports Authority has agreed to shoulder the architectural and engineering design needed of Rota International Airport but it does not have any available money yet to carry out the repair.
Continental Micronesia has terminated its service to Rota because the runway is slippery for bigger aircraft to use when it is wet.
Currently, there are three major hotels operating on the island, namely Rota Hotel, Rota Coconut Village Hotel and Rota Resort & Country Club — all owned by Japanese while the rest of the establishments are owned by locals.
Unfortunately, the Rota Resort & Country Club faces closure if the government fails to extend its land lease agreement for another 15 years. The fate of the Japanese-owned resort will be decided by the Board of Public Lands next month.
Rota island is being marketed as an ecotourism destination by the Marianas Visitors Authority and has become a popular destination among Japanese for a long time. Visitor arrivals in the CNMI have greatly suffered since the Asia’s financial crisis begun in July 1997.
