THE Marianas Visitors Authority’s board of directors unanimously approved the allocation of an additional $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the South Korean Tourism Resumption Investment Plan or TRIP.
MVA board chair Viola Alepuyo said the allocation has also been approved by the governor.
“We just need the board to vote and dedicate that to Korea, and have MVA management control the funds on the condition that there will be an independent accounting to make sure that we follow all the requirements of ARPA,” Alepuyo said.
The initial funding for the South Korean TRIP amounted to $15 million in ARPA funds.
MVA Korea office representative Sei Jin, who attended the MVA board meeting via Zoom, expressed appreciation for the additional funds.
“Great, great news, and great opportunity for the airlines because it will increase the number of flights, and the number of passengers, I’m sure of that,” Jin said.
The MVA board also directed MVA’s Korea office to produce a spending plan that will be presented at the next board meeting scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m.
Besides Alepuyo, the other board members who approved the allocation of additional funds were Ivan Quichocho, Gloria Cavanagh, Chris Nelson, Agida Quitugua, Thomas Liu, and Masaru Sunaga.
Alepuyo also mentioned that MVA has likewise requested an additional $5 million for the Japan TRIP.
Previously, the CNMI government allocated $15 million for the reopening of the Japan market through a travel bubble program launched in September 2022. It includes airline incentives, promotion and advertisement in Japan.
The Marianas Visitors Authority’s new office at Gold Beach Hotel on Beach Road in Garapan.
