Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard Marles, a golf enthusiast, promised the governor that he intends to come back to Saipan to play golf at Laolao Bay.
During his discussion with the seven-member Australian delegation that Marles led, the governor touted Saipan’s beautiful golf courses located on cliff-lines surrounded by the majestic view of the vast ocean and the blue skies above.
Marles asked the governor several questions regarding the CNMI.
Fitial told the delegation about the many scenic spots around the islands, their beautiful beaches and the CNMI’s business-friendly tax system.
Fitial told the Variety that the CNMI needs to diversify its tourism market and Australia could fit in even if it’s already a favorite destination for many tourists.
Though there aren’t that many Australians visiting the CNMI, businesses from the country supply many local hotels and other tourism establishments food and beverages, particularly wine.
The visiting delegation, made up of diplomats and other officials, left Tuesday afternoon on an Australian government’s charter plane for Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.
The group later met with Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo to talk about the military buildup.
Calvo said the challenge is how to sustain the good times for Guamanians and to keep trade going with Australia, a close military ally of the U.S., even when the buildup is over.
The military buildup was the focus of much of the conversation, but trade opportunities, commerce, regional relations throughout the Pacific, and sports tourism were also discussed, according to a statement from the Guam governor’s office.
Marles said an Australian trade delegation is expected to visit Guam next month.
The Australian delegation is now headed to Pohnpei, then to Majuro in the Marshall Islands and finally to Hawaii before returning to Canberra.
