Rabby Syed, Saipan City Taxi Association president, said they are asking U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to help ensure that the program will continue to allow Russians and Chinese to visit the islands even without a U.S. visa.
Syed said his group, like the CNMI government, also wants to “boost the tourism industry in the commonwealth.”
Syed said the local economy will be severely affected by the exclusion of Russians and Chinese from the visa waiver program.
“As a taxi driver, I see first hand the positive impact that Chinese and Russian tourists are making on our economy,” he said.
The loss of the Chinese and Russian markets will destroy the livelihood of taxi operators and drivers, and anyone working in the tourism industry in the CNMI, he added.
In their letter to Napolitano, the group said “stumbling blocks are being put in the way of visitors from Russia and China.”
“We are asking for your help in ensuring that the Guam-CNMI visa waiver program will continue to allow Russian and Chinese visitors to easily enjoy access to our vacations market,” Syed told Napolitano.
He said because of the emerging markets of Russia and China, Saipan is able to weather the current economic storm.
