GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Friday said he had not received official word from the Marianas Visitors Authority regarding the reopening of CNMI tourism on Jan. 8, 2020.
Last month, during an MVA board meeting attended by the governor and E-Land, which owns three hotels on island, Jan. 8 was mentioned as a possible target date for an Airbus 321 charter flight to Saipan from South Korea with up to 100 passengers — subject to the approval of the South Korean government.
“I believe that they are still working on that,” Gov. Torres said on Friday.
“I have not received any official word whether or not the proposed date is a green light or has been rescheduled…. It’s not as easy to get charter flights as we used to.”
One thing is for sure though, he said, “new tourism” will soon commence in the CNMI.
“We continue to move forward in making sure that the plan is in effect,” he added.
Travelers flying into the Commonwealth must have a negative polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test at least seven days prior to their arrival in order to be granted entry.
They will still be tested upon arrival, then transported to the Pacific Islands Club where they will be quarantined for five days. They will not be allowed to go outside of their guest rooms until they test negative on the fifth day of quarantine.
Department of Public Safety personnel will be responsible for enforcing the quarantine rules.
Once the visitors test negative, they will be allowed to use the facilities of the club, as well as the Coral Ocean Point golf course.
Employees of PIC and COP will be isolated from the community as well to further minimize the chances of transmission.
Once the visitors test negative a third time, they will be released and moved to Kensington Hotel Saipan.
PIC, Coral Ocean Point, and Kensington are owned and managed by E-Land.
