Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said Friday that there is no other economic engine to revive the CNMI\u2019s economy if it\u2019s not to bring in airlines for the tourists to visit the islands.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know how much I love Japan and our tourist destinations. Just diversifying our tourism destination is critical to our economy here,\u201d said Torres during a KKMP radio press briefing.<\/p>\n
He said Thursday night one of the media asked him how confident the administration is that the partnership arrangement with United Airlines to have these Japan-Saipan direct flights will last.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI said this is what we do. We know how important the airline is and how important the Japan market is. And it is us too in the government and the private sector and our community to welcome our tourists and treat them with the nicest hospitality and treat them good,\u201d Torres pointed out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said to get the people of the Marianas opportunity to grow or revive the economy all starts with bringing in the airlines.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause we can sit all day and talk about let\u2019s do this, let\u2019s do that. But are we\u00a0 bringing in new money, new investments coming in?\u201d said governor said.<\/p>\n
Torres said the more airlines the CNMI has, it is inevitable to have a good economy, the more opportunity for other people to get hired, and potentially even increase in salary.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said they are putting every effort to present new airlines not just from the Japanese market but new ones like Australia, and perhaps bring back the Philippine market as well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Torres commended the Marianas Visitors Authority team led by its executive director Priscilla M. Iakopo, MVA board members spearheaded by chairwoman Viola Alepuyo, MVA Travel Resumption Investment Plan chair Ivan Quichocho, COVID-19 Task Force chair Warren Villagomez, MVA Japan, and United Airlines for bringing back the Japan-Saipan direct flights possible.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He also gave his appreciation to Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig for his critical role in the CNMI-United Airlines partnership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Torres said they had a nice welcoming inaugural flight reception at the Saipan airport Thursday night, where the MVA and Commonwealth Ports Authority showed a good support system.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201c I want to thank CPA executive director Chris Tenorio and CPA board chairwoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds\u00a0 for bringing out the whole team. We had some [cultural] dancers last night. Beautiful turnout,\u201d the governor said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Torres said he was happy to see Japanese friends, who have been here for a long time, continuing to show support, where it\u2019s PDI, Tasi Tours, or just general managers from hotels, or just simply\u00a0 Japanese nationals who have been coming to Saipan, Tinian, or Rota for the last couple of decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said bringing in the Japan market through United Airlines is one factor\u00a0 as the other factor is having the access for people from the states come here with direct flight from Japan and not necessarily overnighting in Guam, or vice versa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The governor said it\u2019s also convenient for\u00a0 people here in the\u00a0CNMI leaving Saipan to go to the U.S. mainland and not\u00a0staying\u00a0 all day and overnight in Guam.<\/p>\n
He said during the inaugural flight, there were people from\u00a0\u00a0North Carolina, Last Vegas, and different parts of the United States, some for returning home and some for family death.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just shows the easier access to come to Saipan especially during those troubled times,\u201d Torres said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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