Recently, I had the pleasure of spending two weeks back on Saipan, visiting old friends and enjoying the beaches I still miss. I read with interest the numerous news articles and editorials concerning the declining tourism industry in the CNMI. I would like to make a few observations from a strictly professional viewpoint. First, I have no idea where the legislature came up with the idea that increasing the number of “smoking” rooms in hotels would help solve the tourism problem. A simple study of several reports would show that throughout the world, hotels that have enacted a strict no-smoking policy for their properties have seen increases in occupancy rates. Indian-owned hotels and casinos here in Arizona are significantly decreasing the number of smoking areas due to the high demand for non-smoking rooms and gaming areas. Even Japan, with one of the highest rates of smoking among adults, has seen a huge increase in requests for non-smoking accommodations. Many large hotels in Japan are now completely smoke free.
Secondly, the push of MVA and the governor to authorize payments to travel agents to secure additional bookings to the CNMI during the “shoulder seasons” is misguided. Travel agents will gladly book clients to destinations that offer value and memorable experiences with no additional incentive payments. The problem with the CNMI is that it offers neither. Some of you may remember the large survey Continental Airlines did in 2000 to find out why reservation numbers from Japan were declining. The vast majority of those tourists who took the survey cited four major concerns: 1. There isn’t much to do. 2. The beaches and picnic areas are dirty with few trash cans, and the cans that are there are always overflowing with garbage. Plus, there are very few restrooms and those are usually locked. 3. Tourists are being robbed much more than is reported to the police – especially from car and hotel room break-ins. 4. Hotel restaurants and taxi cabs are way too expensive
Now none of these seem like it would take rocket science to address. As for things to do, how about a tram to the top of Mt. Topachou and a zip line back down? These types of activities have done wonders in New Zealand with people making reservations months in advance. What about a narrow gauge train that would circle the island and stop at established and newly created cultural, recreational and shopping sites? People from everywhere love trains and once on board, you have a captive audience.
While I was on Saipan earlier this month, I watched crews do a wonderful job of cutting the grass and emptying trash cans along Beach Road and at AMP. But a trip to Paupau was a different story. The grass looked good but the bathroom was unusable, the trash cans were completely full and there was garbage in all the pala-palas. Why not spread the crews around so that all the high- use areas get cleaned and maintained on a regular basis and fix the bathrooms. You will never increase tourism numbers if you don’t give those who visit for the first time a lasting impression of quality and safety. Car and room break-ins should absolutely not be tolerated. When that kind of activity occurs at our hotels or parks in Arizona, the police usually know who the bad guys are. I’m positive the folks at DPS know who the perps are on Saipan. It takes a certain level of political will and fortitude to start making arrests and imposing sentences that are more than a slap on the wrist. I know the Paupau area has lots of vehicle break-ins. Seems as though it would be relatively easy to have volunteers from Crimestoppers or Block Watch stake out the area and report illegal activity to the police. Theft at the Grand Canyon and other high-use facilities has dropped dramatically since volunteers began patrolling parking lots and pedestrian areas. The volunteers don’t interact with those committing a crime but take pictures and note license plate numbers and physical descriptions. The word is out that someone is always watching those areas and the bad guys are staying away. The high cost of meals and cabs might be a little harder to tackle but if the CNMI desires to cater more to families than in the past, inexpensive food is a favorable draw. Many hotels in the States and Canada now have inexpensive snack bars that offer burgers and sandwiches at prices similar to fast-food restaurants. They also have high-end restaurants that offer full meals and elegant service but at a higher cost. Hotels need a combination of options to keep families happy and to ensure they return for another vacation. I spent $30 for a 12 minute cab ride from my hotel in San Antonio to the airport. I’ve to say, that is outrageous. I don’t bemoan the cabbies from making a living, but those kind of rates are a sure turn-off.
I will end this by asking a question. Who came up with the brilliant idea of putting power poles in the Marpi area? Did any of the decision-makers ever hear of adverse visual impacts? I was speechless when I saw what is happening to an area that should be one of your prime tourist destinations. Visual intrusions ruin the overall aesthetic value of an area and greatly detract from a visitor’s enjoyment. I certainly hope that someone with a grain of common sense sees the folly of that project and curtails it immediately. I read in both papers that the administration completely supports all efforts to improve tourism. Perhaps it is time to back up the talk with some action.
ELAINE WHITMORE
Oracle, Arizona
