Nick Nishikawa, HANMI chairman, said their group will agree to a 30 percent designation of hotel rooms that can be used for smoking instead of their earlier request of 80 percent.
Nishikawa, general manager for the Hyatt, said a significant number of tourists are smokers.
The Smoke-Free Air Act of 2008, or Public Law 16-46, was enacted on Sept. 29, 2009 and its regulations took effect early this month.
HANMI has been lobbying the Legislature to amend the law.
“At that time, we requested a change of up to 80 percent smoking-designated rooms and balconies of those rooms.
However, we are amenable to a 30 percent designation and allow smoking on balconies of designated smoking rooms, if that is more acceptable,” HANMI told the Legislature in a letter.
“We support the [law] as is applies to smoking restrictions in our hotel lobbies and restaurants. However, given the high percentage of visitors to the Northern Marianas who are smokers, we request this amendment to allow our guests to smoke in the relaxation of their private hotel rooms,” HAMI added.
The anti-smoking bill was introduced by then-Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan, in Feb. 2008.
The law prohibits smoking in all public places, restaurants, among other business establishments, to protect the people from second-hand smoking.
Smoking is still allowed within the casinos on Tinian and Rota as well as in gaming establishments around the islands.
