Tourism recovery in the Marianas will unfold in three deliberate phases, the Marianas Visitors Authority announced, emphasizing that rebuilding the industry must track with the islands’ overall post‑Sinlaku recovery.
MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron said the agency’s approach is grounded in community readiness and the need to support ongoing stabilization efforts across the CNMI.
“Our focus right now is supporting the broader recovery efforts and making sure our community is stable,” Taijeron said. “We’ve been through difficult moments before, and each time our islands and our people have come back stronger. That same resilience is what will carry us forward.”
Essential services such as water and electricity remain in various stages of restoration, and repairs to airport navigational aids are underway. MVA officials said they are monitoring conditions closely while preparing for the gradual return of visitors once the islands are able to accommodate them safely.
“At this time, the priority is ensuring that emergency supplies and personnel can come into the CNMI and be properly accommodated so they can support recovery efforts across the community,” Taijeron said. “Our initial assessments show that many hotels are in the process of restoration, and those that are operational are prioritizing emergency responders. As we begin to see restoration of power and water, along with increased hotel availability and overall readiness, we will be in a position to welcome visitors back.”
MVA’s plan centers on three phases. Phase I focuses on assessing airport facilities, hotel inventory, and major visitor sites while restoring agency operations across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Phase II emphasizes transparent communication with industry partners and travelers, with verified updates posted in English, Korean, and Japanese on mymarianas.com. Phase III will begin once the destination is ready, activating targeted marketing and trade engagement to gradually restart tourism in line with actual capacity and community readiness.
“Tourism plays a critical role in our economy, but recovery has to be done the right way,” Taijeron said. “We will move forward step by step, staying aligned with our partners and focused on long‑term stability. When the time is right, we look forward to welcoming visitors back and sharing the strength and spirit of our islands once again, reminding the world what makes the Marianas truly Far From Ordinary.”
