He said it costs his office $60,000 to receive, entertain and host visiting exchange students every year.
In his letter to Speaker Eli Cabrera, R-Saipan, the mayor emphasized the need to “enhance our level of treatment and reception to our visitors.”
When donations, including those that are in-kind, are factored in, he said the cost to his office is approximately $100,000.
“Cultural exchange students and chaperons have been a source of revenue for the CNMI, as they shop while here,” the mayor said. By continuing the exchange program, this source of revenue is made certain. Our exchange students and chaperons do shop.”
In an interview Friday, Cabrera said House Bill 17-179, which is now with the governor’s office, specified that the fees collected will go directly to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
But MVA, he added, can look into the request of the Saipan mayor’s office.
He said the Legislature is not ready to amend the recently passed bill which imposes a $15 fee on each arriving passenger from non-U.S. destinations.
Flores said his office is statutorily charged with the responsibility for ensuring the improvement of community action programs which include “services to and programs for children, young people, adults and the elderly.”
He said he should be provided funding to continue these programs.
He said his office now finds it “very difficult” to host Japanese and Korean visitors at “our own homes at the level of treatment we receive when we travel to their home countries.”
He added, “We need funds to ensure our exchange program survives for years to come, and by doing so, would encourage our Japanese and Korean friends to return to our island year after year.”
He said unlike typical tourists, exchange students enter the homes of local families and experience firsthand the local family’s core values and way of life.
According to Flores, “The inherent value of the cultural exchange program is no match to the amount of money they spend to host their friends from Japan and Korea, and to travel to their home countries to showcase the island’s unique culture.”
Cabrera said he will discuss the mayor’s request with MVA.
