Must revisit tourism industry

At Issue: Need to reform old paradigms in the way we deal with tourism promotions and other policy matters.

Our View: Recommendations made by Japanese Diet member Mr. Tokuo Yamashita warrant deliberate discussions.

The NMI needs to look below the surface in the manner it promotes paradise in Japan and elsewhere, including issues that we seem to have taken for granted but have worked against us in services we offer visitors right here in paradise.

The Marianas Visitors Authority should take heed of Mr. Yamashita’s observations, including promotions in Japan that are basically “inadequate”. There’s an obvious need to regroup and figure out where our good intentions must have failed us in our collective efforts to revive the tourism industry.

Perhaps the one most important aspect that we must come to understand and strengthen is the building of lasting business relationships through well thought-out policies. It needs serious attention in order to deal successfully with the task of paving a stable relationship. We must revisit where we have been complacent on matters that have gradually ruined opportunities to strengthen the industry. In other words, we need to take this matter beyond convetional paradigms from policy questions and other related substantive issues.

Mr. Yamashita is a very influential member of the Japanese Diet having served as former minister of transportation. Today, he heads the committee on transportation in the lower house of the Diet. He’s expressed enthusiasm in the establishment of a joint legislative committee comprised of the Japanese Diet and the NMI. It’s a great first step to get our ducks in order!

The shift in tourism–from elderly who had historical affinity with the NMI to the more westernized young tourists–is yet another matter to contend with over the next decade. Furthermore, there are well poised competing destinations in the Asia Pacific region that are all going after the same dollar. We can no longer rely on the once secured triad of the sea, sun and sand. Nearby regional destinations, i.e., Hawaii, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, among others, have taken their glamour industry beyond conventional amenities.

Finally, Mr. Yamashita mentioned other forms of investments hailing from the Land of the Rising Sun. Efforts in this area will take sometime before we begin seeing the fruits of our labor. Let’s embrace this window of opportunity. We are optimistic that through the joint legislative committee–Diet and NMI Legislature–we would be able to work on both wealth and jobs creation. Si Yuus Maase`!