The Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino has been operating since 1998 and can lay claim to being the major attraction on Tinian, the 40 sq m island in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI). Now there are two more casino resort projects in the pipeline, bringing total investments in the region of US$320 million or more. The Tinian government sees casino resorts as the way to get the economy growing again.

Perhaps infamous for its role as take-off point for the atomic bomb carrying aircraft in World War II, the island of Tinian has been under Spanish, German, Japanese and US administration. It is now one of the three principal islands in the CNMI and remains largely underdeveloped. Tax incentives are offered to investors under the CNMI qualifying certificate programme.

Bridge Investment Group is planning a three phase project for a casino resort about 3 miles south of the Tinian Hotel and Casino. Estimated cost for the first phase is US$100 million for a 300-room hotel and casino, rising to US150 million or more for additional water park and golf course. The Bridge project is already running behind schedule because of a delay in the issuing of a government land clearing permit. The casino is expected to open in December 2007 with 600 casino resort employees but the grand opening is being planned for April 2008.

The Marianas Resort Development Co is planning a US$170 million casino and golf course as well as 4 restaurants, spa, wedding chapel, convention space for 600, shopping arcade and 300-room hotel. Yesterday representatives of the company and the Department of Public Lands signed a memorandum of understanding and a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 4 April 2006. A golf course, the first on Tinian, will be built during Phase 1 of the development, with luxury bungalows and additional rooms being added in Phase 2.

The Tinian tourism industry is projected to bring in around US$92 million annually with the expansion to its hotel casino resort business. The present casino brings the Government over US$300,000 a month and the new projects are expected to contribute more than that. The clear waters around Tinian that provide excellent reef diving sites, deep sea fishing, gigantic hand-carved limestone stones at the House of Taga – Tinian’s legendary chief of the Chamorro, plus scenic beauty and exotic wildlife all add up to an island well worth visiting. At present tourists come mainly from Japan, Korea and China but the CNMI hopes that the additional attractions to be provided by the casino resorts will place Tinian firmly on the international map. (E-03.08.06)

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