HANMI Chairman Ivan Quichocho issued the following statement Thursday on the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization or EVS-TAP Program:
The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands supports the continuation of the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program as an important economic tool for tourism that allows prescreened nationals of the People’s Republic of China to travel visa‑free to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under specific security conditions determined and controlled by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Marianas hospitality industry remains in a fragile state, operating with a fraction of the visitor arrivals, airline capacity, and business activity that once sustained tourism — our primary economic driver.
Before the pandemic, visitors from China accounted for more than 40% of arrivals to the Marianas and helped support thousands of U.S. jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue generation through hotels, restaurants, retailers, transportation providers, and small businesses.
Today, many tourism businesses have closed or continue to struggle with reduced demand, rising operating costs, and limited air service.
HANMI supports strong border security and rigorous federal screening that EVS-TAP provides. We 100% believe security and economic opportunity can coexist. And the Commonwealth must be afforded the economic tools necessary to have a strong, self-sustaining economy.
The Marianas is a beautiful and distinct destination in the western Pacific that offers visitors rich nature, a unique culture, a diverse history, and adventure. Our hotel and allied members continue to work toward reviving a visitor industry that creates jobs, generates tax revenues, and reduces reliance on federal government assistance.
However, that future depends on maintaining and expanding secure pathways for visitors to reach our islands. Removing EVS-TAP without a viable replacement would move us further away from that goal at a time when the industry and the community can least afford it.
