It was said that one of the biggest problems facing the tourism industry is that local labor and immigration problems are not being properly enforced, thus penalizing law-abiding tour operators. For example, some companies hire nonresident boat captains (contrary to local labor law), and pay them in cash to avoid taxes. This practice has generally driven wages down for all boat captains, and many resident boat captains have moved to Guam where the wages are better.
It was said that law-abiding tour operators have complained to the immigration and labor departments in the past before, but that the response has always been that there is a “manpower shortage” that prevents proper enforcement of the law.
In addition, it was said that many tour agents charge their customers exorbitant fees, take too high a commission (often 70 to 80%), and routinely mislead their customers into thinking they will get more from the marine sports companies than they actually will because although the tourists have paid a high price for a service, very little has actually been paid to the marine sports company. Many tourists realize they are being cheated when this happens, and they are not likely to want to come back or to share pleasant stories about the CNMI when they return to their home countries.
Worse, the tour agents have created a cutthroat “race to the bottom” for lower and lower prices for marine sports companies that are desperate for tourists. Marine sports companies that hire illegal workers and pay them low wages under the table are better able to compete under this scheme than companies that follow the law.
It was said that the CNMI should look at successful tourism industries in other places such as Hawaii for models. For example, it was said that Hawaii sets a cap on tour agents’ commissions at 15%, and the CNMI should consider adopting a similar policy. It was also suggested that a licensing program for tour agents and operators be created to establish minimum qualifications and set standards for the industry. Tour companies that violate CNMI law should face stiff consequences (i.e., losing their permits) for ruining the CNMI’s reputation and damaging the entire industry.
It was also said that the CNMI must do more to clean up the environment if it is serious about the tourism industry. Tour operators frequently find plastic bags and other trash floating in the water and clogging up boat engines. It was also said the trash along the coast and in the lagoon worsens during community events such as the Flame Tree Festival, Taste of the Marianas, and Liberation Day Carnival, and that the responsible agencies must do a better job of managing solid waste at these events.
In addition, it was noted that government agencies, including DEQ, CRM, DFW, and Boating Safety, routinely drive on the beach, and this practice must be stopped. It was also said that the CNMI must do more to control stormwater runoff, which is contaminating our beaches that are so essential to the tourism industry, and that tourists must be better educated about coral reef protection.
Finally, some said that MVA has not done a good job thus far of effectively promoting the CNMI. It was suggested that perhaps MVA should be abolished and a qualified private marketing firm hired instead to promote the CNMI, which may bring better results for the CNMI at lower cost.
I think that it is about time that we started taking a serious and honest look at what has become of our tourism industry. Too much focus has been placed on visitor arrivals, hotel occupancy rates, daily flights, seats on planes, and other numerical indicators that tell us little about why airlines, investors, and tourists have quietly and in a relatively short period of time abandoned the CNMI.
What are the real reasons JAL and Northwest pulled out? What are the real reasons why long-time Japanese investors have been disappearing from the CNMI, one by one? Did sheer government mismanagement and corruption have anything to do with it, and if so, how? What experiences do tourists have when they come to our islands that make them never want to return? What do tourists tell others when they return to their home countries? Were they cheated by tour agents? Were their cars robbed while they were out diving? Were they disgusted by the muddy lagoon and the trash on the beach? Did they receive poor service in restaurants and stores? Did they ever meet a single resident who treated them with the gracious hospitality and warmth of which we are all capable?
If we are sincere about reviving our tourism industry, we must be honest about the reasons it declined in the first place. No marketing campaign, no off-island expo or personal visit with investors will bring our tourism industry back if we do not look honestly at the kind of tourist destination that we have actually been, and if we have no vision for the kind of tourist destination we can and should be.
This may already be done but I thought I would mention it just in case.
It might also be useful to conduct a marketing survey of some sort by having the tourist who visisted the island fill out a carefully outlined critique form and then compile the results. The results could be a useful tool to gage where the Marianas is failing.
Thank you for sharing!
The problem with our tourism industry(and I am speaking as a layman and not an expert in business or marketing) is Saipan has nothing to offer except for the tropical weather, beaches, and various historical sites. Nothing else.
Do we expect tourists to return to our islands having already tanned at our beaches, swam in our waters, enjoyed the climate, and visited all the historical sites? I don’t think so. On the same topic, what does Saipan have to offer that Guam (which is 90 nautical miles away) can’t possibly provide?
The CNMI needs additional activities and I am not speaking about Taste Marianas or the Flame Tree Arts Festival. I am speaking in terms of building amusement parks, recreational facilities (like olympic sized pools, etc.) malls, etc.
We can no longer market our WWII historical sites since all the baby boomers have already grown up and visited these sites on a number of ocassions.
Politicians should seek long term solutions and not come at us with tired phrases and ideas like improving our hospitality/Hafa Adai spirit or the local immigration office. The CNMI can only attract and cater to the Asian Market since statesiders would not pay huge sums of money (passing over Puerto Rico, Hawaii, California, or the Bahamas) for airfare to visit the CNMI that has very little to offer when compared to other destinations.
“Saipan has nothing to offer except for the tropical weather, beaches, and various historical sites. Nothing else”-PoliTrix
PERFECT! Thats exactly what I would expect booking a trip to the islands.
i understand that dominic but let me ask you the following questions:
1) what happens when it rains; or better yet,
2) doesn’t guam, hawaii, puerto rico, or the bahamas provide the same natural amenities that tourists can enjoy?
please re-read my previous post in its entirety so that you can fully grasp the gist of the point i was trying to convey. thanks.
Ok Poli, I have read you post in its entirety.
While I agree that the CNMI needs to be more creative in bringing in more tourists I believe that there is a fundamental aspect about tourism that people tend to forget.
Besides Las Vegas and Natural Wonders of the World, what are some well known tourist spots?? I’ll give you some examples, the Colliseum in Rome, the Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall of China and for smaller scale economies, New Orleans/Bourbon Street among others.
I have never been to any of these destinations but I do know one thing. All of the “main attractions” were built and developed for their own people and citizens. The Colliseum was built by the Roman empire to appease the public with brutal sport and entertainment. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the people of America. The great wall of China was built to protect their people from northern invaders. And Mardi Gras in New Orleans? Well its part of their culture that has become the context of books, film, drama and the like.
Come on, there are shopping malls and amusement parks all over the US and Asia (ok I really don’t know any in Aisa except for Akihabara in Japan and Disney) that tourists can enjoy. We’ve got to be original.
To be continued…
Hi Dominic,
So noted sir. However, then explain why Guam (which is 90 nautical miles away) brings in more tourists than the NMI. Their airports and tourists spots are always packed. In fact, when tourists go to dine in these parts, they practically have to wait in line.
Over here, using the Saipan International Airport as an example, we have more Airport staff present than we do tourists.
Thanks for the discussion.
I don’t know why Guam has more tourists. From what I understand Guam is more competitively priced. That doesn’t mean that the CNMI should become a discount destination. We should strive to be a place where a visit is your money well spent.
As far as shopping malls, La Fiesta is BADA$$, DFS Galleria is nice too.
I think everytime the CNMI gives up too easily on their tourism investments. Even if things don’t pan out and the water is left half-full, we just don’t see it half-empty when we are pessimistic. We throw out the water from the cup because its not good enough (figuratively speaking) and then look for another source to fill it up again. IF we just look at the infrastructure thats there and take ownership and make it our own and unique to the CNMI we’ll begin to fill that cup up ourselves.
Oh and please let’s get rid of the SAI-PANDA, its like we’re trying to lure children into a candy store. Leave that ^%#& to Mickey Mouse.
Does the MVA advertise or market to tourists who visit Guam?
Why don’t we have more cruise ships that sails from Guam up to Saipan that way you can have people stop in Luta, Tinian on the way. Don’t tell me people on Guam don’t get bored.
Finally! I agree with you Dominic. The CNMI government needs to update its strategic and marketing plans in order to improve our tourism industry. We need more innovative minds!!! The “cruise ship” idea is one of many!!! Celebrities pay millions just to be “isolated” from the public or for privacy and the Northern Islands appear to be an ideal place for this. Let’s market the Northern Islands; built thatch bungalows or use the grounds for sport of hunting. Heck! Wasn’t the Survivor series held in Palau? We need innovative and creative minds in our tourism business. And we need them NOW!
I love the cruise ship idea! Don’t think it will require a legislative initiative to happen either. We could even put Gambling on the cruise ships.
If your thinking high roller cruisers you’re thinking Silversea (google it). We don’t need the Titanic. It would be easier to have a small fleet of cruisers, “Island Hoppers”. One from Guam to Rota, one from Rota to Tinian, one from Tinian and Saipan, and then another one from Saipan to Anatahan and even farther north for “ecological themed tours”.
How bout building a bridge between Tinian and Saipan?
That sounds good to Mr. Propst. I mean, Tinian is not receiving its expected number of flights anyway. Also, I think that the CNMI should consider investing in its sporting facilities. The warm weather would attract professional athletes into considering the NMI as a training hub.
Great ideas y’all!!! Keep it coming.
That sounds good too Mr. Propst. I mean, Tinian is not receiving its expected number of flights anyway. Also, I think that the CNMI should consider investing in its sporting facilities. The warm weather would attract professional athletes into considering the NMI as a training hub.
Great ideas y’all!!! Keep it coming.
Why hasn’t RocBall taken off? Maybe they should send a taped match to ESPN.
Do you think the CNMI will host the Pacific Arts Festival that was in Palau in 2004 and American Samoa in 2008 in the future?
A bridge between Tinian and Saipan is a good idea?
A bridge between Tinian and Saipan can be done and you can charge people. Okay, maybe it’s an insane idea. But not as insane as the Saipan Casino Act! Damn, we can’t even manage poker on Saipan, and now we’re going to manage a casino? LOL! What a joke!
Bad Behavior has blocked 376 access attempts in the last 7 days.