MARIANAS Visitors Authority acting Board Chairwoman Gloria Cavanagh, Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang and U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member Jerry Tan expressed their support for the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s request for additional $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding.
In her letter to CPA Executive Director Christopher Tenorio, Cavanagh said she is committed to supporting CPA’s efforts to obtain federal assistance to offset any revenue shortfall that may hinder airport operations in the next two years during the islands’ economic recovery.
She agrees that long-term solutions are necessary to ensure the continued provision of affordable and reliable inter-island air transportation.
Cavanagh also told Tenorio that she supports the CNMI’s inclusion in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Services program as proposed by U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan.
Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, in a separate letter, likewise expressed his support for CPA’s request for additional funding.
He said he is aware of the significant impact of super typhoons and the Covid-19 pandemic on the CNMI, particularly its tourism industry. He also understands that the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport, which is a crucial component of the CNMI infrastructure, has been impacted as well.
Tan, who is also president and CEO of Tan Holdings Corp., wrote a letter to U.S Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to express support for CPA’s request.
In his letter, Tan stressed the role of tourism in the CNMI economy, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the steps taken by the Commonwealth government to rebuild tourist arrivals.
Tan said CPA’s request will allow the CNMI to avoid a “vicious spiral” in which the measures taken to respond to decreased travel demand will in turn further exacerbate the underlying issue of low arrivals. This spiral, without additional federal support, will have wide ranging impacts on employment and business and government revenue derived from economic activity, Tan said.
He added that “short-term support for CPA at this juncture can potentially be instrumental in securing a lasting framework for the CNMI’s economic recovery.”
As a resident of the CNMI, a stakeholder in the islands’ tourism industry and as an advocate for the advancement of the Western Pacific region, Tan said he is tremendously grateful for the monumental efforts undertaken by CPA and the U.S. DOT to continue to safeguard and support the CNMI community.
“It is my hope that the context and challenges facing the CNMI’s economy after three years of challenges caused by Covid-19 provide additional resources to aid in your consideration of CPA’s request,” Tan told Buttigieg.
David M. Apatang
