MVA opposes bill increasing board members

The Marianas Visitors Authority yesterday expressed concern on the financial effect of a proposed measure that will increase the number of MVA board of directors from the current nine to 11 members to its limited financial resources.

Board Chair Dave M. Sablan said the legislature failed to identify the source of funding for the two new positions of deputy managing director — one each for Rota and Tinian.

The board has scheduled a special meeting to discuss the issue extensively so that they can prepare for the recommendations to be submitted to the legislature.

Mr. Sablan estimates that each MVA office for Rota and Tinian would need approximately $200,000 each, considered a huge burden for the tourism office which has already been cutting down promotional campaigns due to limited budget. Most of the board members believe that an increase in the number of MVA board members does not guarantee additional funds for the tourism agency.

Under House Bill 12-173, the MVA board will again be controlled by political appointees rather than the private sector — contrary to the original intent when the agency was revamped two years ago from the defunct Marianas Visitors Bureau.

The present set up in the MVA where more private sector members were appointed to assist in the government’s tourism promotion was the idea of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio. He believes that those who are involved in tourism-related businesses will be able to effectively help the government in marketing the Northern Marianas as an ideal destination in the Pacific.

The inclusion of two new directors from Rota and Tinian, with one additional representative each to the MVA’s policy-making body was made by the legislature in an effort to boost representation by both island municipalities in the tourism industry.

Ironically, a study conducted by the transition team during Mr. Tenorio’s first month in office traced the problem of weak tourism campaign to limited representation of the business sector in the defunct Marianas Visitors Bureau which had 14 board members, nine of whom were all government appointees.

“What will happen now to the “one island, three destinations” campaign that we have built all these years in promoting the Northern Marianas? Does this mean that the marketing for Tinian and Rota will be handled by the MVA offices in Rota and Tinian,?” asked one board member.

Under the new amendment, seven board directors will be chosen by the governor — three from Saipan and two each from the two other islands, with the rest of the four members picked by the private sector. Some board members believe that increasing the representation from Rota and Tinian will only politicize the MVA board, a move which may prove to be counter productive later on in their effort to revive the ailing tourism economy.

HB 12-173 will also empower the MVA again to regulate commercial activities on or near tourist sites which was earlier scrapped by then Superior Court Judge John Manglona in a recent ruling.