GOVERNOR Arnold I. Palacios recognizes the potential of golf courses in bringing in more tourists to the CNMI so he encourages the Marianas Visitors Authority to include golf in promoting the destination especially in South Korea market.
The governor joined members of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegations in a meeting on Monday with South Korean golf player and instructor Lim Jin Han in the House chamber.
Han said he wants to help expand golf tourism in the CNMI.
Accompanying Han was Asia-Pacific Hotels Inc. Vice President Kwang Joong “Tommy” Kim.
The governor noted that Korean golfers are among the CNMI Women’s Golf Association’s top players, and the number of Korean golfers in the Commonwealth is growing.
He said the CNMI government “needs to get a closer look at” golf tourism.
“We need to do something about it,” he said, adding that MVA “has to go out there and promote golf tourism. I am not sure why we are not doing it.”
MVA can meet with the golf course operators in the CNMI and figure out what the CNMI government needs to do in terms of incentives, he added.
“We need to continue to talk about this and put together a plan and we need to talk to MVA about it. The golf courses can be the [tourism industry’s] driving force,” he said.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios speaks during a meeting with the members of Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation and South Korean golf player and instructor Lim Jin Han on Monday.
