THE administration and the Legislature are working together to find the funds needed for Marianas Visitors Authority’s marketing efforts in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and China.
Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente said House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan, has already introduced an administration-endorsed measure that would appropriate $2.6 for MVA’s campaign.
The appropriation bill was drafted following a series of meetings attended by the administration, the speaker, MVA and the Marianas Public Lands Authority.
Under the bill, $2.2 million would be used to bring in 100,000 additional Japanese visitors by the end of the year, Benavente said.
He added that $200,000 would be earmarked for the CNMI’s Korean promotion efforts for this year.
Another $200,000 will be used to improve the charter flight program currently offered by China Southern Airlines.
In a separate interview, acting MVA Managing Director Vicky I. Benavente said “as soon as the (bill becomes law), we will be able to announce what exactly the components are for the promotional campaigns.”
Mrs. Benavente said they will closely work with the Legislature for the passage of the bill.
Compared to other tourism destinations, MVA has not been able to intensify its campaign efforts because of the low funding level, she said.
“But we will move forward and we will work together toward our goal—we know we can make it,” she said.
