GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres said his administration and the Marianas Visitors Authority are working to revive the Japan tourism market.
“We’re communicating with Japan,” he said, noting some similarities and differences between the current travel bubble agreement with South Korea and a potential agreement with Japan.
A key factor, he added, is the number of positive Covid-19 cases in Japan.
In order for the Japan travel bubble to work, the governor said they need to be more specific in the travel arrangements agreeable to both Japan and the CNMI.
“At the end of the day, they know we’re safe. And we want them to visit,” he added.
He noted that the recent signing of a new 40-year land lease between the Department of Public Lands and Hyatt Regency Saipan was a “strong statement” to the CNMI’s Japan market and Japan businesses.
“They’ll see that we value long-term partnerships with our business partners,” Torres said.
He also said that the revival of the tourism industry is key to economic recovery and the creation of more job opportunities.
As for the current travel bubble program with South Korea, Torres said more tourists will be arriving in the CNMI in the next few months and more airlines have expressed interest in adding Saipan to their routes.
Meantime, the governor encourages community members to continue practicing the 3Ws — wear a mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands — to keep the Commonwealth one of the safest destinations in the world amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ralph DLG Torres
