‘Paseo to improve tourism, economy’

After months of construction, the Paseo de Marianas open-air mall in Garapan officially opened to the public on Tuesday, a development that is seen as key to the revitalization of the Garapan tourist district.

Local officials, NMI beauty queens, tourists, the local man’amko, and other members of the community gathered at the mall to mark its grand opening Tuesday evening, with restaurants surrounding the area giving out free food and drinks while musicians Sam Joyner and Ace Elameto, as well as cultural dance group Isa Dancers, providing live entertainment.

“It’s nice, it’s something different, and it’s great,” said Francis Mendiola while touring the area.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta, who led the ribbon cutting ceremony, said the mall tells visiting guests that the CNMI “is a first-class destination.”

“Our guests, in turn, will spread the word, which is probably the most effective way to spread a particular destination—through word of mouth—that the CNMI is the place to go. It will help bolster our tourism, which in turn will improve our economy,” the governor said.

Marianas Visitors Authority board chair David M. Sablan agreed, citing the significant effect the mall will play in the island’s tourism industry.

“Travel behaviors have become more complex and our competitors are more aggressive,” he said. “Coordinated efforts are necessary on our part to maintain and remain competitive, and continue to attract our visitors to the CNMI. Paseo de Marianas is a key phase to the plan to enhance the business environment and attract more visitors and shoppers to the area. [It] represents a great stride that we have undertaken to advance our destination development efforts.”

The mall project, costing about $3.31 million, got underway on Jan 13, 2004. It was initially scheduled for completion on Oct. 7, but additional work around the area resulted in the extension of the contract.

The Strategic Economic Development Council first floated the idea of renovating the Garapan area in the late 1990s as part of its tourist-related beautification program. The mall project is the third phase of the approximately $25-million Garapan Revitalization Project.

“Picture what [tourists] saw when they strolled through this part in Garapan,” said Marianne Aldan-Pierce, a member of the council. “No pedestrian amenities, poor building aesthetics, traffic circulation problems, haphazard automobile parking, no trees, no shade, no sidewalk, poor graphic images…that was the image that remained with us until work on this transformation began this year.”

Pierce-Aldan said the project’s goal is to enhance the district’s physical environment, to create a safe, positive, memorable experience for those who live here and the visitors that arrive on a daily basis.

“We want to create a strong identity for this district, encourage pedestrian activity and make it a brighter, safer and more pleasant tropical environment. [And] looking around, I’d venture to say that we have succeeded. It is now a place that we can all be very proud of,” she added.

The Revitalization Project aims to transform the downtown Garapan area into an attractive and safe focal point for tourist and resident activities, including strolling, outdoor dining, outdoor musical entertainment, and festivities.

Other phases include the renovation of Coral Tree Avenue, which is due for completion in Spring of 2005. The project includes adding about 80 to 100 trees and new sidewalks along the strip, burying power lines underground, and the installation of light posts similar to ones found along the Beach Road pathway.

Other projects in the area are the Visitors’ Center located at the American Memorial Park, scheduled to open in March 2005; renovation of the street by the Bank of Guam leading up to Middle Road, which includes adding sidewalks, street lights, and a drainage system within the next 12 months; extending the pathway from American Memorial Park to the Saipan Seaport; and building a cultural museum just south of the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach.

“You can see how this whole area is transforming to a premiere destination,” Babauta said.