MVA $2 million increase in FY 2001 budget

The Marianas Visitors Authority is seeking an $8 million appropriation for Fiscal Year 2001, or an increase of $2 million from what the Office of Management and Budget has allotted for the tourism agency.

Board Chair Dave M. Sablan said MVA officials have sought an increase in funding during a meeting with members of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee so that it can effectively carry out its promotional campaign.

On top of this, MVA needs $8 million to implement a number of Capital Improvement Projects in the island municipalities of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

In a move to diversify its market, MVA has set aside $3.7 million in advertising for Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, United States and to a certain extent, the People’s Republic of China. Local advertising and promotion has been given a much smaller share with only $459,000.

Mr. Sablan noted that the increase in arrivals of Taiwanese visitors to the CNMI should be supported with a corresponding additional amount in promotion.

Mandarin Air has recently signed a three-month extension of its agreement with Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino to carry out two charter services a week due to the growing popularity of the package tour to Tinian.

While the Department of Labor and Immigration has imposed a ban on the entry of nationals from the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Sablan said MVA can target those with U.S. visa to come to the CNMI since other countries have already set promotional campaigns for the Chinese market.

Aside from promotional activities, maintenance of 85 tourist sites is also handled by MVA which eats up a huge amount in the agency’s budget. The cleanliness of beach areas fronting the hotels was formerly the responsibility of the tourism office but this was recently scrapped by the court.

Mr. Sablan believes that the other agencies of the government as well as the Mayor’s Office should coordinate with MVA in maintaining the tourist sites so that the job is not left on the tourism agency alone.

“We are accused of not policing the tourist area but this responsibility does not fall on us anymore because we do not have enforcement powers No matter how much we do so, our hands are tied, we cannot do anything about it,” he said.

Of the $8 million budget that the tourism office has submitted, some $2 million will be spent for personnel.