THE Marianas Public Lands Authority on Friday approved the government’s request to give the Marianas Visitors Authority at least $1 million to increase its funding for promotional efforts.
MPLA Commissioner Bertha C. Leon Guerrero said the authority would be reimbursed later.
Manny Villagomez, MPLA board member, expressed hope that the money would help revitalize the ailing tourism industry.
“That’s what the administration is asking so we’re supporting what they need to promote, especially since they just opened the CNMI for China flights. We would really benefit from that,” Villagomez said.
The remaining MPLA board members—former Justice Pedro Atalig, acting Chairwoman Annie Demapan Castro and Pete Igitol—also believe that MVA should be assisted in its promotion campaign.
In a separate interview, acting MVA Managing Director Vicky I. Benavente expressed appreciation for MPLA’s support.
“We’re very happy that MPLA has come to support our programs,” Benavente said.
She said the additional money for MVA would “surely help” their efforts to effectively and aggressively market the CNMI as a premier resort destination in the Pacific.
MVA and other government agencies are still operating based on the funding levels set in 1998, which was the last time a budget act became law.
Last year, MVA spent more than $6 million for its operating and promotional expenses. Guam spent twice that amount during the same period.
