GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios on Friday signed Senate Bill 23-2, which authorizes the Marianas Visitors Authority to plan, propose and develop infrastructure projects to improve destinations and enhance MVA’s capability to attract tourists to the CNMI.
Authored by Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero, S.B. 23-2 is now Public Law 23-10.
The law assigns MVA the following additional duties to promote tourism in the CNMI:
1) Planning, designing, and proposing projects and programs to enhance the CNMI as a tourist-destination on properties not located within 150 feet from high water without expressed approval of the Department of Public Lands.
2) Planning, designing, developing tourist-enhancement projects, including but not limited to recreational and public facilities that will attract potential visitors subject to the restrictions provided for in Article XI of the CNMI Constitution and Public Law 15-2. which gives DPL authority over public property within a 150-foot high-water mark.
3) Sponsor events and issue grants for construction of projects and programs to increase visitors’ satisfaction and generate revenue for MVA from such events, construction projects and programs, on properties located in areas described in P.L. 15-2.
The new law also requires MVA to collaborate and work with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources-Division of Parks and Recreation and DPL in developing facility designs and the overall improvement of sites under the jurisdiction of Parks and Recreation and the mayors of Tinian, Saipan and Rota.
The new law states that MVA’s duties need to be expanded to qualify for available grants without permanently shifting authorities and duties from agencies already tasked to do the same work.
