THE governor’s senior policy advisor yesterday said the Legislature made a “significant contribution” toward the growth of the ailing tourism industry, as he reiterated the administration’s commitment to revive the CNMI economy which has been in a slump since 1998.
Robert J. Schwalbach said the Legislature’s decision to pass House Bill 12-138, which appropriates $2.6 million to the Marianas Visitors Authority, shows how the administration and the Legislature can work together with the private sector toward improving the economy.
The bill was passed by the Senate with amendments on July 3 at 11 a.m. Hours later, the House of Representatives passed the amended version, which was signed as Public Law 13-16 by then acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente.
“This is a wonderful example of the Legislature, the administration and the private sector deciding together what input will be best for the commonwealth, and working together to make it happen,” Schwalbach told Variety yesterday.
He said the Legislature should also be commended for cooperating with the administration.
The new law will fund the administration’s CNMI Tourism Strategy Plan developed by MVA. It aims to bring in an additional 100,000 visitors by the end of this year.
The plan also targets the China and Korea markets.
Schwalbach said the administration and lawmakers understand that tourism is an “essential component of our economy and the government has to strongly support the industry.”
Schwalbach said the administration will also support MVA’s request to hire experts for its ongoing marketing promotions in Japan, China and Korea.
