MVA seeks more funds from CIP
As part of its priority program for this fiscal year, the Marianas Visitors Authority will ask the Legislature to include the development of tourist sites in the list of Capital Improvement Projects which the administration will undertake.
MVA Board Chair Dave M. Sablan said he will ask the legislative leaders to provide the needed $8 million funding so that the tourism agency can begin planning for the improvement of tourist sites this year.
“We need new tourist attractions to sell the islands and we cannot afford to sit back and wait for the visitors to come here,” said Mr. Sablan. Improvement of tourist sites cover the three islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
He said he wants to give priority also to the relocation of the Street Market from Garapan to the vacant lot near the museum so that permanent structures can be built to showcase the local handicrafts.
Despite its meager budget, MVA has been trying to maximize its financial resources to market the CNMI in Japan and other Asian neighbors including Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Prospects are bright for recovery of visitor arrivals from Korea as it has shown steady increase since 1999.
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.
Since the tourism office is having its own financial problems, Mr./ Sablan said 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.
Legislators from Rota and Tinian earlier wanted separate budgets for their island-municipalities because they were not satisfied with the way MVA is promoting the two senatorial districts claiming it was only focusing mostly on Saipan.
However, Mr. Sablan dismissed criticisms that MVA has failed in its marketing efforts saying the decline in tourist arrivals was primarily brought about by factors beyond their control. (LFR)
