By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
MARIANAS Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron, who has led the agency since March 2025, will step down on May 31, ending a tenure marked by market instability, post-typhoon recovery efforts, and what she described as one of the most challenging periods for the CNMI’s tourism industry.
Taijeron confirmed her resignation on Wednesday, saying she tendered it during the April MVA board meeting. She said the decision was driven by her family’s relocation to Guam after her husband, Joe Taijeron, former House legal counsel for the CNMI Legislature, received a professional opportunity there.
“This has already been in the works before the typhoon,” she said. “After Sinlaku, it became a much easier decision to move the kids earlier. Saipan is our home, and we never expected that we would leave this island, but this is what’s best for our family right now.”
Taijeron was appointed managing director by the MVA Board of Directors following the resignation of Christopher A. Concepcion.
Her departure comes as the CNMI continues to navigate a difficult tourism landscape. The Korea and China markets — long pillars of the visitor industry — have faced significant disruptions over the past year, compounded by the stalling of the EVS/TAP program and the broader economic effects of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
“I would say my greatest contribution is doing my best to hang in there and tackle each challenge as it came,” Taijeron said. “There were a lot of things we did the same, and a lot we did differently. I’m proud to say the team on Saipan, Tinian and Rota worked very hard to find different ways to address the challenges with limited resources.”
During Wednesday’s meeting, MVA board members also discussed the Japan market, noting that it has shown consistent year-over-year growth and remains one of the CNMI’s most stable recovery areas. Several directors emphasized the importance of maintaining visibility in Japan and continuing long-standing promotional efforts, especially as Japanese travelers gradually return to international travel.
Board members said the CNMI must “stay present” in Japan to protect recent gains and ensure the Marianas remains competitive among regional destinations.
Taijeron said one of her biggest unfinished priorities is the Philippine market, which she described as gaining strong momentum before the storm. MVA had lined up content creators, culinary collaborations, and promotional visits tied to the Taste of Marianas and trips to all three main islands.
“I really would like to see the Philippine market grow and support the Philippine Airlines direct flights from Manila,” she said. “There was a lot of momentum there, and I hope it continues.”
She also highlighted discussions on establishing a cultural and visitor experience center, a project she believes would strengthen the CNMI’s identity and provide a centralized space for cultural interpretation and visitor engagement.
“That’s something I think is lacking on the island, and I would really love to see it continue even after I leave,” she said.
Asked how she hopes to be remembered, Taijeron pointed to her commitment to the islands and her belief in the Marianas as a niche global destination.
“I guess it would be the passion,” she said. “I truly believe there is a lot of potential for the Marianas to be a destination people from around the world want to visit. Each island holds a different experience, and we want people to recognize that.”
Taijeron said she does not yet have a job lined up on Guam and will focus on her family’s move and remaining responsibilities on Saipan. She added that she would gladly contribute to the CNMI’s tourism industry again if the opportunity arises.
“Even not as a director, even as a regular citizen, I would always love to contribute to anything that makes our islands stand out,” she said.
Prior to serving as MVA managing director, Taijeron was an MVA board member. She also worked for DFS Saipan Limited for more than 15 years and served as assistant general manager of operations for nearly three years. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Columbia Southern University.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
