Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan, is also questioning why MVA doesn’t have a Japanese citizen promoting the islands in Japan, the CNMI’s main market.
Michael D. Merner, of Marketing Garden Ltd. and MVA’s managing director for Japan, said an informal survey they conducted among their major travel agent partners in Japan showed Japanese tourists are not keen on legalizing a casino industry on Saipan primarily because they don’t want to spoil the island’s natural beauty.
“We’ve asked all of our major travel agent partners in Japan. Do they think that Saipan should have casino? The overwhelming answer is no. The reason for that is because they view Tinian as having the casino product. And being part of the CNMI, we already offer that product on Tinian,” he said in an earlier interview.
“They feel that it’s important that Saipan not follow the road of Guam or Hawaii with over commercialized development and keep its position as a natural paradise and that doesn’t fit the casino image,” he added.
During the House session on June 18, Torres said Merner was sending the wrong message on the casino proposal.
“I suspect that he’s not truly representing the CNMI,” said Torres. “I am not sure why we are appointing a non-Japanese person representing the CNMI in Japan. I thought we have a Japanese individual or Japan citizen going around representing the CNMI. So with that I am suggesting that he be canned or be replaced,” said Torres.
Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb, R-Saipan and chairman of the Saipan delegation, said MVA has to clear a lot of issues related to the tourism industry.
