Here is a wrap up of the “trouble-shooting” trip that a long-time businessman and resident Bud White highlighted, not to nitpick but to hopefully call the attention of tourism stakeholders on island.
1. Restroom facilities.
Only Banzai Cliff and the Grotto have rest room facilities. A very “unwelcoming” outhouse is erected at the far end of the Bird Island sanctuary but no one dares use it.
2. Deep road shoulders at the Last Command Post and lack of proper road signs.
White said parking at the Last Command Post has become a challenge especially for smaller vehicles. With the deep road shoulders, motorists will have to park across from the post and face the risk of being run over by cars when crossing the ‘unmarked’ road.
3. Lost/nearly invisible walkway.
The neglected walkway from the Last Command Post that goes all the way up to Suicide Cliff has gone beyond visibility. Thick shrubs have almost completely hidden the pathway and no hikers or joggers can use it now. Portions of the road have also collapsed due to soil erosion.
4. Signs of trouble.
Stop signs and other road signs have been erased or vandalized.
5. No security.
White said having no round-the-clock security in high traffic areas encourages daylight robberies, something that victims would never forget and would not hesitate to spread around.
6. Overgrown shrubbery.
The sight of overgrown vines, bushes and shrubbery snaking their way into the road is a common sight when driving up to Marpi. The thick jungle also serves as a quick get-away for robbers. The thick shrubs covering the Grotto Overlook have done more to hide the beauty of the place. A few hours of cleaning and weeding and regular maintenance could solve this problem.
7. Location maps.
Placing proper location maps with translations in various languages could help answer questions of tourists. The huge map boards at the Last Command Post were reportedly blown over by the wind and have not been replaced. White said the gaping holes are a loud testimony to how this aspect of tourism is neglected.
8. Peeled paint, no maintenance.
Peeling paint like those at the fences of Banzai Cliff and the Grotto Overlook are not big matters, but there are also cracks that need maintenance work to prevent accidents.
As a businessman for over 30 years on island, White has seen the rise and fall of Saipan. He said the stakeholders in the tourism industry and the government should not stand idle and watch the only remaining industry go crumbling down.
“Now, everybody is wondering why the figures for tourist arrivals continue to decline. The problem does not lie solely with the global economic situation. Drive up to the tourist spots, not only in Marpi but all over the island, and see the answers right before your eyes,” White said.
