Previous Story
Managaha landing fees eyed for MVA
|
Posted on Apr 01 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta is pushing for a legislative action appropriating Managaha landing fees for the Marianas Visitors Authority.
In a March 31, 2005 letter to Sen. Pete P. Reyes, chairman of the Saipan and Northern Island Legislative Delegation, Babauta said Managaha fees would supplement the budget needs of the authority.
MVA, which receives some $6 million in annual appropriation, is asking for a $2-million supplemental budget this fiscal year to boost its promotions of the Northern Marianas.
“I recommend that the local delegation do what has worked in the past: use your authority to appropriate funds that are available and will become available from Managaha landing fees to support Marianas tourism,” said Babauta.
In his letter, he said the government’s decision over a year ago to allocate $2.6 million from the same source reaped great rewards.
“This strategy paid off,” he said, citing that tourist arrivals increased to 530,000 in 2004, the highest number since 1997.
Since 2002, he said the MVA’s funding has remained flat and the Legislature has made no additional appropriations for promotion.
Babauta said the current Managaha account would not be enough to cover MVA’s needs. But he said that the local allocation would help the MVA sustain its operations.
The governor assured the delegation that his administration is committed to “destination enhancement” to build the Northern Marianas “into a destination that attracts visitors by virtue of the quality of their experience.”
“Destination enhancement has been part of the administration’s long-term economic development strategy. We have—and we continue—to make substantial investments in assuring the environment is clean and attractive,” he said.
He cited that the government has closed down Saipan’s number one environmental hazard and eyesore—the Puerto Rico dump—and opened a state-of-the-art sanitary landfill.
He said the government has invested and will continue to invest in improving specific geographic areas that are important to the business of tourism.
Among these include the Paseo de Marianas, American Memorial Park visitors center and the entire Garapan Revitalization project, which have so far cost some $14 million.
