Raquel Aguon
WE’RE so small, we can do it.
That’s my philosophy when it comes to improving The Marianas destination and making our island home the most beautiful place it can be…the closeness of our community is an asset.
As product development manager at the Marianas Visitors Authority, I have the privilege of overseeing a select number of initiatives to enhance our destination. Destination enhancement is a Marianas-wide effort, and MVA is just one part of a network of government offices, non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals each doing their part.
When it comes to destination enhancement, MVA’s objective is to amplify for visitors the qualities our islands already have, especially our beautiful and clean land, sea, and air. In MVA’s last exit survey, the #1 activity our visitors had said they had planned to do during their trip was enjoy nature. That means nature preservation must be a priority for the future of our tourism industry, and the best kind of enhancements we can pursue are those that connect our visitors with nature.
By that definition, destination enhancement does not mean cutting down trees to make way for pouring concrete. Yes, physical improvements are needed, and some concrete may be necessary, but we believe that enhancements must be undertaken in harmony with our nature and our culture of connection to the land and sea. More effort must be put in place to provide landscaping as part of any road project or new building construction. In fact, the Saipan Zoning Law of 2013 already requires that landscaping be incorporated into certain commercial and residential areas. This should be enforced.
Keep in mind, destination enhancement is not only physical improvements but experiential improvements, as well. It’s creating opportunities for visitors to experience outrigger canoe sailing in our lagoon. It’s putting traditional local dishes or fusion dishes with locally grown produce on our restaurant menus. It’s about creating opportunities for visitors to learn our local dances, crafts, and history. It’s sharing the Hafa Adai-Tirow spirit. What other ideas come to mind?
Before I went to college, I used to enjoy the pathway at American Memorial Park on the western shore of Micro Beach. When I came home, I was shocked to see that in just a few short years a huge part of that pathway had disappeared due to erosion. This is a strong analogy of how quickly things will change due to unchecked forces. Without careful thought and planning for the preservation of nature, we could easily become a concrete jungle, like some of our island neighbors. If not protected, retreats like the forested lands of Marpi could easily be erased. Future generations of children and visitors will either thank or blame us for the actions we take today.
MVA is now completing A&E design of three projects in Marpi funded with a grant from Economic Development Administration — improvements to Bird Island Lookout and Suicide Cliff and a new restroom at Last Command Post. Each of these projects aims to improve the aesthetic, accessibility, and safety at these stunning nature sites. A contractor will be hired shortly, and groundbreaking will start in the next few months barring any hurdles being implemented by federal authorities in Washington, DC, like we’ve seen in the last few days. Meanwhile, our reflective Hafa Adai & Tirow sign in Marpi has become a hot spot for nighttime shoots with stargazers, our Rota sign has been given a facelift, and more iconic signs are in the works.
Our efforts work best when we work together. A big si Yu’us ma’ase, olomwaay, and thank you to all the groups — especially our youth — who have volunteered their time to help plant landscaping, clean, paint, and do other work to help elevate our destination. If you or your group would like to make tourism your business by assisting with a future project, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the MVA website at www.mymarianas.com or at (670) 664-3200. We’ve got some exciting initiatives in the works, and every little bit counts.
We can do this, Marianas.
