HANMI says House proposal a boon to tourism industry

The Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands has opposed a proposed legislation that will stop all paying passengers from boarding at all sea transport facilities other than the Smiley Cove and the Outer Cove Marina due to its adverse effect on the tourist industry on Saipan.

HANMI legal counsel David A. Wiseman warned that HB 12-250 may wipe out the half-a-billion-dollar tourist industry if enacted into law as it goes way beyond regulating the commercial or tour boat operators by subjecting passengers from anywhere in the western lagoon unreasonable restrictions.

At least 18 of Saipan HANMI members who represent the largest hotels here are located at the western lagoon. Majority of these hotels have some type of boat operation or concession that provides water sports activities at their beachfront.

According to Mr. Wiseman, tourists enjoy the use of beaches and lagoon as conveniently as possible which they can do now by just walking on to the beach fronting the hotel where the boats are awaiting to serve them.

“The major lure and attraction for tourists to come to a tropical island resort such as Saipan is the beauty and uniqueness of its waterfront and the ocean lagoon. This bill would destroy that attraction, convenience and excitement of walking outdoor of the hotel, on to the beach and boarding a boat for their ocean experience,” he said in a letter to Rep. Antonio M. Camacho, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Wiseman emphasized that requiring the hotel guests to arrange for land transportation to the Outer Cove would be imposing a very unreasonable burden upon the hotels and its tourists.

He pointed out that guests who would be staying at Pacific Islands Club or Grand Hotel would have to wait for a vehicle that would transport them to the Outer Cove if they would just want to enjoy a jetski ride for 20 minutes.

The hotel association fears that the logistics and staff required by the hotel to establish a workable system for this new arrangement would be a significant and difficult burden for the hotel.

“The end result would most likely be that the majority of tourists would cancel such water activity upon learning of the hassle, time and expense involved or that even if they were willing to try it, the logistics of having it work smoothly would be so unlikely and such a difficult goal to accomplish, that the experience would be a negative one. Something that the Saipan tourist industry does not need,” Mr. Wiseman said.

The restrictions imposed by this bill on major hotels in accommodating their guests would change the entire concept of the tourist’s stay on the island as well as hotel operations in accommodating a major activity of the tourists.

HANMI has also expressed concern on the safety of the Outer Cove Marina and the lagoon boat traffic that may arise once the bill is enacted into law.