He said Russian tourists have helped the taxi business survive despite the island’s dismal economic situation.
Other tourists, he added, are here on a package tour and have pre-arranged itinerary with their tour agency, which does not allow taxi operators from offering their services to these visitors.
“We hope the federal government will include Russia and China as among the countries to benefit from the yet to be implemented Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program,” Syed said.
Top CNMI officials, including Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, and Senate President Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan, believe that the inclusion of China and Russia in the visa waiver program will be good for the CNMI.
“Chinese and Russian tourists are of crucial importance to the islands’ economy,” they said in a letter to the federal authorities. “The current impact on the CNMI economy of these two markets is nearly $200 million annually — not the $6 million economic impact that was indicated in the Web site by Customs and Border Protection which was grossly understated.”
Chinese tourists also like to ride taxis, particularly those who travel individually, Syed said.
“They are good customers and their contribution to the tourism industry is also very significant,” he added.
Syed said their group also supports the lawmakers’ efforts to establish an improved relationship with the federal government.
