MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio said the agency has two existing promotion offices in its primary markets —Japan and South Korea.
MVA is also banking on its secondary markets such as China and Russia, but reopening offices in these countries is not a priority at this time, Tenorio added.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also has to decide whether to include the two countries in the visa-waiver program under the federalization law that will be implemented starting next year.
“Whether China and Russia will be included in the visa program will definitely impact what we will do in the future,” Tenorio said.
He believes that the local tourism industry will benefit if the visa program will be extended to the two countries.
“If not, the difficulty faced by Chinese and Russian tourists in obtaining U.S. visas will continue and will be detrimental to us,” Tenorio said.
MVA stands to receive $7.5 million for fiscal year 2009 if the Legislature approves the governor’s proposed budget.
“MVA supports the governor’s submission and majority of the funds, as always, will go to operations and that includes advertising,” he said.
Tenorio said 60-70 percent of the total proposed figure will be used for operations.
At least $1.6 million will cover the salaries of MVA’s 39 personnel while $1.4 million is for “all others.”
