Sablan says CNMI must show real island hospitality

The Marianas Visitors Authority will now make sure that the thousands of Navy personnel who arrive here on the island for a few days of rest and recreation will experience the real island hospitality.

MVA board chair Dave M. Sablan said he believes that the tourism agency should coordinate efforts of various government agencies in extending assistance to the various vessels that arrive in Saipan.

Mr. Sablan noted that the Navy personnel are also carrying out community work during their stay. So far, they have already provided free medical consultation and helped in the repair of the Tinian clinic.

Since a lot of businesses on the island benefit during their stay. Mr. Sablan said it is also important that they get discounts in different establishments such as the use of golf courses. Most of the visiting servicemen rent vehicles and mopeds as they tour the island during their three to five days stay, eat in different restaurants, stay in various hotels and shop for souvenirs.

USS Blue Ridge, the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet recently visited the CNMI carrying more than 1,000 Navy personnel.

The U.S. Navy’s decision to call on Saipan port was based on the earlier assessment of intelligence personnel who checked on the security aspect of the place. Aside from this, the Northern Marianas is very near Japan and Korea where some of the vessels would usually be coming from.

According to the U.S. Navy officials, they find Saipan very relaxing because it is not crowded and yet equipped with all the amenities of a developed destination such as shopping malls and hotels. Representatives from the U.S. Pacific Command in Guam first inspected Saipan and the different establishments here before making the decision to bring in Navy personnel on the island.

Meanwhile, the MVA board has approved the participation of the CNMI in the largest travel show in Hong Kong, the International Travel Exposition on June 8-11, 2000. The board has set aside a budget of $11,500 for the ITE exposition.

Although there has been a considerable number of tourists coming from Hong Kong , an alternative market for the CNMI, MVA has yet to establish a representative office there. Marketing the CNMI in Hong Kong now faces a huge problem with the removal of direct flight from Saipan to the former British colony.

While MVA is interested to join the Pacific Asia Travel Association for a sales mission in mainland China in mid-April, tourism officials want to clarify first with the Department of Labor and Immigration its policy of allowing Chinese tourists with U.S. visa to visit the CNMI.

Board member Roberta Guererro said MVA should begin looking at the huge expat community in China which remains untapped. PATA Micronesia is eyeing the huge Chinese market to visit the Micronesian region.