WHATEVER you may say about the proposed amendments to the Managaha rules — well, feel free to say it. DPL has sought, and is still seeking, public comments, and has held public hearings during which community members can speak freely. Those who have concerns have also reached out to lawmakers and the governor himself. This is how controversial proposals are hashed out in a functioning democracy. The people, especially those directly affected by such proposals, have a say, and will be heard. The leaders they elected have to listen. And if they don’t, voters can elect new leaders.
So why wasn’t the public consulted about the governor’s “pivot” policy, which he announced in a letter — not to the people of the CNMI — but to a U.S. military official? To be sure, unlike government agencies that want to change their rules, the governor is not obligated to consult the public about his policy preferences. But the pivot is such an unprecedented move — virtually shunning a major tourism market — that a prior announcement would have been much appreciated. The governor knew it would affect, and not in a good way, the islands’ only industry at a time when the economy was barely recovering, if at all.
Early this year, asked by the Voice of America about his pivot’s “impact” on the local economy, the governor said: “We’ve had to make drastic sacrifices in government operations and public services. People are leaving the Commonwealth because of the depressed state of the economy right now, because of the major impact of losing close to half-a-billion to a billion dollars’ worth of economic activities.”
Everyone’s affected by the state of the economy. Yet the governor went ahead with what is essentially a new economic policy without consulting those who will be, and are now affected, by its implementation. As far as I know, there was no mention of a “pivot” in his official campaign speeches or statements in 2022. I don’t remember him telling the voting public that once elected, he would not allow MVA to again promote the CNMI in China or that he would do absolutely nothing to revive direct flights from mainland China. But I do recall that in his inaugural address — the one that he delivered — he said, “We must not forget that we…need to listen to each other with civility [and] respect…. [N]ow, more than ever, civil discourse and consensus-building are necessary….”
In the spirit of civil discourse, I now ask the governor: Do you believe that the U.S. pivot and the revival of the China tourism market are incompatible? If yes, why?
In May 2024, China hosted a three-day U.S.-China Tourism Leadership Summit to, among other things, “celebrate the long-awaited return of Chinese visitors to the United States, aiming to renew and strengthen relationships among participants.” The head of the U.S. delegation was Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis Grant T. Harris. According to a media release from the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the tourism summit in China “will underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthen the U.S. travel and tourism sector and enhance people-to-people exchanges with China. As announced in August 2023 by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and former PRC Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping, the Summit will convene for the first time since 2019 and bring together American and Chinese public and private sector travel and tourism leaders to support people-to-people connections and forge partnerships that will foster economic growth in both countries.”
“ ‘Since day one of the Biden-Harris Administration the U.S. Department of Commerce has made it a top priority to rebuild the travel and tourism sector in a way that spurs inclusive economic growth, creates good jobs, and bolsters conservation and sustainability,’ said Assistant Secretary Harris. ‘This Summit is an opportunity to increase international visitation to the United States, which is important to jobs and communities across the country.’
“Prior to the pandemic, the United States welcomed nearly 3 million Chinese visitors annually, who spent $33 billion while visiting the country. Restoring Chinese visitation to 2019 levels would add over 50,000 direct American jobs. Including indirect jobs and students studying in the United States, that number increases to an estimated 400,000 American jobs.”
And yet the CNMI, according to MVA, does not market in China right now: “Our competitors in the region including Guam, Hawaii, California, New York and all the other states and territories are marketing in China. We’re the only ones that [don’t].”
More facts:
By the end of next month, the EVS-TAP program will take effect. Chinese nationals who want to visit the CNMI (for up to 14 days only) will now be “pre-screened.” The local business community said EVS-TAP “would create firm safeguards against overstaying visitors or any potential future rise in birth tourism, as existing flights would be operated and controlled by travel groups that could be held accountable for their passengers.”
In the Indo-Pacific region, Hawaii’s strategic importance for national defense and security is paramount. The U.S. military’s presence in the Aloha State is extensive, and it allows America to “project power and maintain a forward presence in a strategically vital area” while “ensuring regional stability and maintaining security partnerships with allies and partners…in the…region….”
A year ago, the Bangkok Post reported: “Hawaii eager to further tap Chinese tourism market.”
“ ‘In 2019, the visitors from China ranked number one in terms of overall visitor expenditures per person for a day. We are eager to welcome these wonderful travelers to our shores,’ Daniel Naho’opi’i, chief administrative officer of Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), told over 100 guests from China and the United States…. Titled ‘2023 China Hainan Night,’ [the Honolulu] event was designed to explore opportunities for future cooperation between south China’s Hainan Province and the US state of Hawaii, which established a sister relationship in 1992.
“Kalani L Ka’ana’ana, HTA’s chief brand officer and a tourism industry veteran, [said:] ‘We’re really excited to be back in the China market. Obviously, during the pandemic, it was tough globally to promote the Hawaiian islands. We’re really excited to reopen to all of our guests from all over the world, but especially from China….’ Ka’ana’ana said the recovery of China’s economy and the deep relationship between the people of Hawaii and China would help bring more Chinese tourists to the Rainbow State.”
In June 2024, KHON2 of Honolulu reported that “Tourism from China to Hawaiʻi has spiked significantly”:
“Honolulu has seen a remarkable rise in popularity amongst Chinese tourists. Honolulu has climbed from being ranked at number 9 up to rank number 5 as a preferred destination. This shift is part of Hawaiʻi’s broader strategy to attract more Chinese visitors.” (My italics.)
Governor, why can’t we “pivot” while still tapping into all possible tourism markets, including China?
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