MARIANAS Visitors Authority Board Chairman Warren Villagomez issued the following statement Thursday on the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program:
The Marianas Visitors Authority supports the continuation of the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program or EVS-TAP, an important tool in our tourism recovery. Our position has always been that national security and economic recovery are not mutually exclusive. The program can and should continue to operate with strong screening, vetting, accountability, and federal oversight.
Before the pandemic, visitors from China accounted for more than 40% of arrivals to the Marianas and were critical to sustaining air service. Today, we are rebuilding tourism with just a fraction of the airline seats, visitors, and marketing resources that existed when the industry was healthy. Eliminating EVS-TAP without a viable replacement would further reduce visitor demand and make it even more difficult to restore air service, jobs, and economic activity in the Commonwealth.
We support efforts to strengthen EVS-TAP and explore additional secure travel pathways, including visa-waiver for the Philippines or other appropriate visitor markets, while protecting U.S. borders and national security interests.
