Attracting more tourists

A meeting was recently held with nine business owners, managers, and concerned individuals in the community to brainstorm ideas that would attract more tourists to visit Saipan. Tourism once played second fiddle to garment factories as a source of government revenue, but in the last three years it has taken center stage as the sole industry to help stave further economic hemorrhaging.

Each of the ideas were then evaluated and prioritized. It was agreed that we can’t wait for the government to take charge, and that if any of these ideas are to be implemented it would come from investors and entrepreneurs who could see the possibilities. Here are the ideas, listed according to their ranking:

* Build a convention center to encourage more business and group conventions.

* Encourage more athletic events that take advantage of our warm weather.

* Take advantage of the Marine Monument advertising to promote events in the CNMI.

* Set up natural, extreme rides – for example, long zip lines in the ocean, rolling balls with people in them.

* Zone areas on island that would be exempt from Article 12 to promote commercial development and attract new businesses and tourism.

* Promote the CNMI as a “green” alternative power island. Tie in with monument and gateway to the Marianas Trench

* More comparative advertising that shows Saipan is closer to visit.

* Legalize casino gambling on Saipan.

* Encourage more privately owned, public transportation so tourists can easily go to stores and attractions.

* Have a children’s park and store for kids.

* Have a shark cage diving business that attracts adventurous visitors.

* Identify and promote to a new market to replace the Chinese (30K) and Russians (10K) in numbers and spending.

* Many international women are having their babies in the CNMI, so build exotic or unique birthing centers to attract pregnant international women.

* In all MVA promotions, highlight the “most consistent temperature in the world” and “deepest water on the planet.”

* Also emphasize the “highest mountain on the planet from the ocean bottom.”

* Start a surf school for the Asian market. East swells are great here. Build a fake reef that will form a perfect wave.

* Promote medical vacation tourism.

* Promote more educational tourism in the CNMI. Have schools that attract more elementary to high school students, and assist NMC to attract more international students.

* Charter a cruise ship that goes to all the Micronesian islands.

* Have more brand name stores or products. Also, local crafts should be priced reasonably.

* Provide incentive programs (added value) to tourists visiting the CNMI.

* Get Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, or some washed-up singer who is popular in Asian to move here and hold concerts.

* We need a K-Mart or Wal-Mart store.

* Have condominiums or housing to attract baby boomer tourists who want to get away from the cold weather for several months of the year.

* Provide better public transportation.

* Focus attractions on indigenous resources.

* Subsidize flights to Saipan.

As you can see, some of the ideas would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, while others are less expensive. A cost-benefit analysis would help identify the most viable options to pursue. The best ideas could then be discussed further and developed so that they could be implemented.

Hopefully, there are some ideas that would attract an investor with deep pockets, and who could take advantage of the many opportunities that are still available in the CNMI. If you have some other ideas or would like to discuss these ideas further, you can visit www.bizresults.blogspot.com to make any comments.

****