The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is due to release its new 5-year Tourism Master Plan early next year. After significant research and visitor surveys, funded by the US Department of Interior, the plan aims to guide the CNMI in developing and improving the tourism industry, which is the major source of income in the area but is suffering from the present economic situation. Many politicians believe that introducing casinos to Saipan, the largest CNMI island, would assist in an economic recovery.
In 2007 voters on the island of Rota approved casinos but Saipan residents voted down the proposal. The island of Tinian has one casino in operation and although both Tinian and Rota have various casino projects apparently in the pipeline, so far there remains just one CNMI casino. However, some politicians on Saipan are seeking to press on with casino legislation.
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Two former casino bills for Saipan casinos failed to gain approval – one died in the Senate last year and the other was vetoed by the Governor on the grounds of unconstitutionality. Now Rep. Rafael Demapan says he is considering merging the two bills and presenting a new bill to legislators. A survey of residents’ opinions on legalizing casinos on Saipan, conducted by Northern Marianas College students, due to be released on 4 November, may influence the decision whether or not to introduce the new bill. (E-10.11.11)
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