By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

MARIANAS Visitor Authority Managing Director Perry Tenorio says he is grateful to the administration for promising to restore MVA’s budget cut.
MVA was included by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial among the “essential services” that need priority funding.
Tenorio said he believes that Fitial will fulfill his promise.
“In time of financial struggle we need to increase awareness about the CNMI as a tourist destination and we’re very optimistic that this administration has recognized that,” Tenorio said.
MVA’s budget for this fiscal year is over $6 million budget.
Due to declining revenue collections, Fitial has announced an across-the-board 15.6 percent budget cut.
But he said the cuts made on the budgets of the Public School System, Northern Marianas College, Public Safety, Corrections, Public Health and MVA will be restored.
“Our plans are in place,” Tenorio said. “We will continue our efforts to improve and expand our markets in other countries.”
MVA has regional offices operating in South Korea and Japan.
Tenorio said they are still assessing the plan to open offices in China and Russia.
“MVA is working closely with our partners in those two markets. We’re getting better exposure in those countries,” he said.
Tenorio, who is a member of the CNMI Tourism Task Force created by the governor, said they are now working on the agenda for next month’s tourism meeting in Tokyo, Japan.