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Retirees’ group picks NMI as top destination
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Posted on Jan 20 2005
A large group of American retirees have listed the Northern Mariana Islands as its top choice of the five most U.S.-friendly travels spots in the world.
The American Association of Retired Persons, a nonprofit, non-partisan membership organization for people over 50 years old, included the CNMI in its “Five Countries Where the U.S. is Feted—Not Hated” feature that appears in its January-February 2005 magazine.
The AARP magazine described CNMI as a U.S. territory in the Pacific islands that is “reasonably priced, with moderate hotels at $65 to $130 a night.
“Locals even celebrate the Fourth of July,” it said.
It promotes Rota, in particular, as a charming remote place. “Don’t miss the village of Songsong—no malls, lots of charm,” it said.
Aside from the CNMI, the AARP magazine also listed Grenada in the Caribbean, Belize in Central America, Andorra in Europe, and Luxembourg as great, U.S.-friendly getaways.
Local authorities have recognized the potential of the CNMI as a haven for retirees, focusing mainly on the Japanese elderly.
Some lawmakers have favored pushing for legislation promoting permanent investments in the CNMI that would cater to retired people. They cited the need for big corporations to build retirement facilities, such as condominiums in the CNMI.
Lawmakers had also cited the need to improve existing infrastructures such as the hospital to ensure adequate medical services for the retirees.
Former congressman William S. Torres said this is an emerging industry that can provide an alternative source of revenue for the local economy.
The Marianas Visitors Authority also supports the idea of promoting the CNMI as a retirement haven for elderly foreigners and has introduced a proposal to develop a housing area for the retirees.
