She said the Northern Islands have more to offer like beautiful beaches although transportation is of utmost concern.
“If we try Goat Island and people would really like the eco-lodge concept it would be a wonderful thing to maintain in the Northern Island,” she said.
Yesterday, Knight attended the planning committee meeting of the upcoming Northern Islands Development Summit at the Northern Islands mayor’s office on Capital Hill.
She told development planners that she talked with Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz regarding the proposed establishment of an eco-lodge on Aguiguan.
The project, which she said will be very environmentally sustainable lodging, will be bid out to private developers who can provide overnight camping and day tours.
Strategic plan
Knight, who is currently working on the five-year development plan for MVA, said she will include the development and resettlement plans for the Northern Islands.
She asked development planners to share their other plans so they can also be incorporated.
Knight offered to use her slideshow about the wonders of the Northern Islands to “give inspiration” to the people and prospective developers.
Knight said she has been to the Northern Islands and took many photos.
“There’s a great potential there,” she said.
Manuel L. Knight, KnightConsult LLC senior tourism adviser, also attended the meeting. He said the Northern Islands are not known but have big potentials for development.
He suggested to the development planners to look into the capital investment, marketing and entrepreneurship required to develop the area.
Exhibit
Summit consultant William S. Torres said its main goal is to redevelop and resettle the Northern Islands.
He said the Pacific Development Inc. has already expressed interest in eco-tourism development in the CNMI’s “northern frontier.”
PDI, a tourism-oriented company, is interested in arranging a stopover of luxury cruise ships in the Northern Islands, he added.
“That is very feasible,” he said, as he urged MVA to work on a plan that will allow cruise ships or even planes to visit the area.
He said part of the development program is to set up a refueling station in the Northern Islands to encourage more visitors.
The source of funding for these projects was not discussed,
Lynn Knight lauded the development planners for updating a website for the Northern Islands but she suggested setting up an exhibit at the airport.
She said a map showing the volcanoes and other wonders in the Northern Islands will generate more interest in the area.
Jess Wabol, who chairs the planning committee, said sail boats usually stop over in the Northern Islands.
He said the only issue is how to market the area.
Others who attended the meeting were Jack Ogumoro and Richard Seman of Fish and Wildlife, Jerome Aldan of the Northern Islands mayor’s office, Department of Public Lands planning division director Pat Rasa, DPL homestead director Manny Rabauliman and architect Herman B. Cabrera.
