CNMI delegation preps for tourism summit in Tokyo

Gov. Juan N. Babauta will lead a second trade mission to Japan on June 17 to follow-up on last week’s meetings with Japan Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Continental, and U.S. and Japan government officials promoting air service to the Northern Marianas.

The delegation members met Tuesday to map out the actions they need to take to ensure that any reduction in service by JAL can be offset by increasing flights from other carriers.

“The CNMI delegation will return to Tokyo for the Marianas Tourism Summit with travel agents that was already planned for June 17th,” Babauta explained. “This will also give us opportunity to report to our partners in Japan on our response to last week’s discussions on how to preserve air service to the NMI.”

Present at Tuesday’s planning meeting with the governor were Duty Free Shoppers president Marian Aldan-Pierce, PMT president Seiji Sato, Rep. Arnold I. Palacios, Commonwealth Ports Authority chair Joe Lifoifoi, CPA board member Ben Fejeran, CPA executive director Carlos Salas, and Marianas Visitors Authority executive director Vicky Benavente. Senate President Joaquin Adriano participated by telephone.

Last Thursday in Tokyo the NMI delegation was advised of a number of actions the CNMI can take to fill in any gaps in service left by a reduction in flights by JAL. They met with Japan’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation, Kazuo Kitagawa, with Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer and U.S. Embassy staff, and with officials of Northwest and Continental airlines.

Among the actions the delegation is working on are:
* reductions in airport fees for airlines that add routes or take over existing routines,

* preferred gates and other improvements in service at the Saipan International Airport,

* cash incentives to travel agents who increase their bookings to the Northern Marianas,

* extension of the fuel tax exemption to cover aviation fuel, and

* reduction in hotel rates and golfing green fees to make vacation packages more attractive.

Palacios, the House minority leader, briefed the delegation on the status of legislation that has to be passed in the next week in order to be ready for the return mission to Japan.

“House Bill 14-338, sponsored by Representative Hofschneider and Speaker Fitial, provides $2 million to CPA for airline incentives and is now before the Senate,” he said. “But we need to give the Visitors Authority sufficient funding to be able to offer incentives to tour agents, also.

“Given the very tight timeframe we are looking at to protect our tourism industry, I’m sure the Legislature will be acting in the next few days to make funds available for both CPA and MVA. We have to keep flights coming here and make sure those flights are fully booked. The Legislature will do its part.”

Adriano said he had scheduled a Senate session for Friday and would take the needed action. (PR)