SENATOR Jude U. Hofschneider wants new hotel investors to include airline services in their operations.
In a letter to Gov. David M. Apatang on Monday, the Tinian senator said the lease agreement between Kanoa Resort Saipan and the Department of Public Lands has expired, and the property in Susupe on Beach Road is now available for new investors.
He noted that the law requires DPL to prepare a request for proposal when leasing public land properties.
Considering the state of the CNMI’s economy and the low number of visitors in recent years, Hofschneider recommended that DPL include a requirement in the RFP: any business interested in the Kanoa Resort property should also be associated or affiliated with an airline company that can help transport tourists to the CNMI.
“This partnership could greatly assist the CNMI in its tourism recovery plans,” the senator said. He cited past examples, including partnerships between Nikko Hotel and Japan Airlines in the 1990s, and LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort with Asiana Airlines, which benefited not only the hotels and airlines but also CNMI tourism as a whole.
“Today, the CNMI has another opportunity to invite new hotel investors and airline firms to form a similar partnership and lease the Kanoa Resort property that is up for grabs,” he added.
