‘Amount of infrastructure CNMI is losing fast is scary’

Hotel Association of the NMI chair Ivan Quichocho finds it alarming that some of those in the retail industry in the CNMI that have reopened have chosen to close and pull out of the Commonwealth.

Some of those key retailers, Quichocho said, include Caronel and certain brands at DFS Galleria.

“And these are alarm bells for us because that’s critical infrastructure that we use to attract tourism,” said Quichocho during a joint meeting among HANMI, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and some members of the House of Representatives, in the House chamber on Monday.

He said DFS Galleria has several good products, but when the brands are seeing that shoppers are not coming back, they may not either.

“So it’s scary. It really is scary—the amount of infrastructure we’re losing rapidly,” he said.

As such, they are hoping that the CNMI can turn the tourism industry around and get the tourists back.

“If we do turn it around too late, we may end up being a backpack destination,” said Quichocho as he underscored the need for the CNMI to work together on restarting tourism.

This situation, Quichocho said, means the tourism industry is in trouble. “We need to go after every market there is. But we really need help,” he said.

Quichocho said he is not sure how long some of the HANMI and Chamber members can hang on, with “losses month over month over month.”

“So very serious situation,” Quichocho said.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce board of directors president Joseph Guerrero echoed Quichocho, saying the CNMI’s situation is dire and very concerning.

Guerrero said he believes it is their civic duty to share whatever information they have with the Legislature and government on what the situation is. He is hoping that the meeting is a chance not just for the Chamber and HANMI to explain the situation but really talk about solutions.

Just like big businesses, small businesses like his are hurting, Guerrero said.

“People may say, ‘Hey Joe, Naked Fish is always busy.’ But I’m down 25%,” said Guerrero, adding that he really does not know how long he can last or hold on at a 25% reduction in sales.

He said a lot of small businesses are calling him, texting him, asking for advice, but that he does not have the answers other than the need to find a way to make things work.