(SCC) — The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands have jointly submitted a letter to the CNMI leaders, including Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, Lt. Governor David Apatang, U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, Senate members, House Speaker Edmund Villagomez and House members.
The letter, delivered on December 13, 2023, expresses the concerns of the business community regarding the recent letter sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas concerning the entry of nationals from the People’s Republic of China into the CNMI.
The SCC and HANMI highlight the significant impact of the Chinese tourism market on the CNMI economy and stress the need for a balanced approach that ensures border security while supporting economic recovery.
The Nov. 30, 2023 letter from members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives addressed long-standing concerns about the use of discretionary parole for PRC nationals entering the CNMI for tourism. The business community recognizes the importance of addressing security issues but emphasizes the need for solutions that do not hinder the CNMI’s economic recovery, which is heavily dependent on tourism.
In response to the concerns raised, the SCC and HANMI propose the implementation of the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program or EVS-TAP as a subprogram of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver program. This program, designed following 902 consultations in 2019, aims to enhance security measures while ensuring the orderly entry of PRC nationals for tourism purposes.
Joe Guerrero, president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce Board, stated, “The EVS-TAP was designed by the federal government to address security concerns and the orderly entry of tourists, including those from PRC. We hope that once this is implemented, which we hope would be implemented very soon, the federal partners see the urgency and it would be most ideal to implement the EVS-Tap at the same time the discretionary parole ends.”
The proposed EVS-TAP program involves electronic screening, a maximum 14-day stay, and exploration of additional security measures for PRC nationals. The SCC and HANMI urge federal leaders to consider this solution, emphasizing the unique economic challenges faced by the CNMI and the potential adverse effects of restrictive federal policies on tourism-dependent economies.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands remain committed to working collaboratively with federal and local authorities to address concerns while fostering economic growth and security in the Commonwealth.
