By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

ROTA Sen. Paul A. Manglona says their island’s tourism industry is dead as no regular international flights are coming in to bring in visitors.
Statistics from the Marianas Visitors Authority show that Rota’s arrivals plunged by 80 percent last month — 398 visitors compared to 1,887 in Jan. 2006.
Only 218 Japanese tourists visited the island last month compared to 1,060 in Jan. 2006.
Only 13 U.S. mainlanders visited Rota last month, down by 29 percent compared to last year’s figure.
Manglona is urging MVA and the Commonwealth Ports Authority to do something about the island’s situation. The agencies are scheduled to have a meeting on Rota.
The Republican lawmaker, in a telephone interview, said Rota only has a minimal number of plane seats on a daily basis.
Tour agents are not longer encouraged to bring in more tourists to Rota, he said.
Manglona said to increase flight service to Rota, regional or international carriers should be provided with incentives.
MVA markets Rota as a premier eco-tourism site in the Pacific.