Teno calls for combined efforts to revive tourism

One of the Commonwealth’s largest industries got a much needed boost Friday when Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio designated May as Tourism Month in the Northern Marianas.

CNMI Tourism Month will coincide with the Marianas Visitors Authority’s celebration of its 25th anniversary.

“I urge all residents and visitors to appreciate the importance the tourism industry plays in the Commonwealth and the need for successful partnerships, as demonstrated by MVA, to promote international goodwill and prosperity for all,” the governor said.

Tourism Month has adopted the theme, “Tourism works for the CNMI.” The theme typifies the industry’s role as one of the backbones of the economy in the Northern Marianas.

Before initialing the proclamation, Governor Tenorio also implored residents and people of the CNMI to be friendlier and welcome and greet tourists coming to the Commonwealth.

For his part, House Speaker Benigno Fitial voiced the legislature’s support for the proclamation of Tourism Month and congratulated MVA in its 25th year anniversary.

“Rest assured, the House will continue to enact laws it sees fit in improving visitor arrival numbers to the CNMI. We would support all efforts to bring in more tourists to our islands,” he said.

He however cited that it was unfortunate the House measure to provide additional funding to MVA through the aviation fuel tax was vetoed by their counterparts in the Senate.

MVA was supposed to use the additional funding in scaling up its promotions in key markets such as Japan and South Korea.

MVA Executive Director Perry Tenorio said although he was saddened by the decision of the senate to scrap the piece of legislation, he called on both chambers of the legislature to sit down and iron out their differences in opinion and hopefully come up with a compromise bill.

In connection with the celebration of Tourism Month in May, Mr. Tenorio said that the event would be a great chance for the islands to showcase itself in front of admiring visitors.

He also noted one week in May has been designated Tourism Week in the US, but because it was also the 25th founding anniversary of the tourism authority, the MVA board found it best to extend the celebration from a week to a month.

MVA, whose primary task is to market the Commonwealth as a tourist destination, was founded in 1976 and has set the example in how private and public partnership could work in the islands.