Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said the project will be a major boost for the CNMI’s sluggish tourism-based economy.
“This is a very welcome development,” he said during a press conference on Friday.
With the exception of Kumho Asiana’s expansion and renovation project at Laolao Bay Golf Resort, no other major construction activity is happening on Saipan.
But the governor said Asiana Airlines is scheduled to increase its regular Saipan-Korea flight service and will add Osaka, Japan flights to the route before the year is over.
“They [Asiana Airlines] are going daily and in December they will launch the Osaka flights,” he told Variety.
Japan remains the CNMI’s major tourism market although no Japan-based carrier is serving the route since Japan Airlines abandoned it in late 2005.
Korea is the islands’ second major market with Asiana Airlines as the only airline serving the route.
Government statistics showed a total of 110,012 Korean tourists visited the islands during the past 11 months ending in August — up by 23 percent compared to the same period last year.
The figure represents close to 10 percent of Korea’s estimated 1.14 million overseas travelers last year.
Kang Dae Sik, president and chief executive officer of Flame Sako Resort & Spa, said their investors are putting in money to build a nine-story 357-room resort hotel north of the Palms Resort Hotel in Marpi.
Fitial and Public Lands Secretary John Del Rosario Jr. signed a memorandum of understanding with Kang on Friday.
The Korean firm wants to lease a 10-hectare public land for the project.
The Legislature, which has yet to call for a session, must approve the 25-year initial lease phase proposal. The lease can be extended for 15 more years.
Kang said he came to know about Saipan through his 35-year-long friend who lives here.
“My friend introduced me to Saipan and I’ve met a lot of local people. One of the things that I really like here is the sunset in the beach area — fantastic. I also like Saipan people,” Kang said through an interpreter.
He wants to start the project as soon as possible.
There are currently about 2,000 Koreans, mostly investors, living in the CNMI.
