‘Logistic: 1 cause of Dynasty’s demise’
Logistics is one of the reasons why Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino was forced to shut down, according to Pacific Century Inc. director James Chua. The hotel casino opened in the late ’90s but closed last year, with main investor Hong Kong Entertainment (Overseas) Investment Ltd. also filing for Chapter 11 protection.
Chua, whose company is involved in business development and project management and is a consultant of the Office of the Governor, said the owners did not see the future. The CNMI also experienced a big dip in tourist arrivals in mid-2000s—an effect of the global financial crisis.
“Basically, I believe the developer did not foresee the difficulties of bringing tourists and guests to Tinian. Logistics was one of the reasons. Until the logistics issues are resolved, it will always be hard to bring customers to Tinian,” said Chua.
Having no direct flights going to Tinian is another problem, making it an inconvenience for visitors. “So when [clients] come to the CNMI, to participate in gaming, they first arrive on Saipan and take another flight going to Tinian. It takes up more time of the visitor since they only have a limited time on their trip,” added Chua.
Rota would experience the same problem if ever an individual would want to invest in the CNMI’s most southernmost island. “They will be needing direct flights and if not possible, they have to resolve the transfer from Saipan to the other two islands—going there and back to Saipan.”
“It doesn’t mean they have to fly jet planes between the islands; it is not possible. But some kind of creative idea needs to be implemented so that customers will enjoy traveling between the three islands—Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. There are still a lot of issues they need to resolve before anything can be really launched,” said Chua.
He said the gaming industry could prosper in the CNMI. “I believe the CNMI has the opportunity to develop the gaming industry on the three islands. Saipan, Tinian, and Rota can have their own casinos but it must be different kinds, one must not be the same with the other.”
Tinian Dynasty remains closed up to now. Alter City Group is developing Puntan Diablo Cove into a $1.7-billion resort, while Bridge Investment Group is constructing its own Titanic-themed hotel near Kammer Beach.
Tinian Dynasty was the first of its kind in the Western Pacific and had a 75,000-square meter floor space for its casino with blackjack, Baccarat, and roulette as some of the favorite games.
Politicians didn’t anything constructive but ensure its complete closure. Sen. Francisco Borja ought to provide the explanation with his foresight killing the industry at home to grant Saipan the entire nine yards.
First off, this article is not quite correct, the whole story is not being told to this company.
When Dynasty explored the location they were “promised” by this govt and Casino Commission and many other in power that a new “ferry terminal would be built for their two “planned” ferry’s along with an airport expansion and terminal so that they could bring in direct flights.
Even as Dunasty brought in their ferry’s and during the time of the construction this Govt. still kept assuring Kwon and all that what was promised would happen.
After the opening and subsequently they kept sticking to the promise of the Ferry terminal and airport and excuses as for the delay..
Eventually, years later the airport had a new runway and eventually a half completed terminal.
The FAA certified the airport for large aircraft on VFR flights but still no instrumentation was ever installed (Till today) the Chinese Airlines would not fly into this airport without an ILS (at that time) so they landed on Saipan and for a while a 35 pax twin prop would come from Guam and ferry the pax to Tinan, later that airlines failed so they were left only with the small planes.
The Ferry terminals never got built as they rebuilt the areas that promised as the small boat harbor and put in floating docks (multiple times over the years.
One ferry ran into the shore line and was never repaired. The other still struggled to even break even due to low passenger count and eventually was tied up due to non payment of Govt. fees etc.
Then the feds ought up with them in their “non reported| money dealings etc.
This it is what it is today. As usual the Govt. lied and continued to lead on the investor.
Unfortunately the Dynasty took the Govt. at it’s word without any back checking and found out too late.
But it is correct without any direct flights, Tinian cannot move forward on such a venture.
Any present developer will have to most likely front any needed improvement at the Tinan airport for the passenger jets to land along with a refueling and fuel storage facility at the harbor which also would require a new lease from CPA for Shell or another of Island jet fuel provider to supply jet fuel as Shell in the past is the only one that supplies this fuel in the NMI.
It is very sad but it is the truth but nothing but the truth. Our government tend to be the culprit of our investors or potential investors from maximizing their potential. Personally, I rather just visit the CNMI than commit our partners from going bankrupt. But DOD would be a game changer in the CNMI.