Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron, who was appointed to the post in January 2023, is resigning effective May 31, telling reporters Wednesday that her family’s relocation to Guam and a year of unprecedented challenges shaped her decision to leave the agency.
Taijeron said she tendered her resignation during the April MVA board meeting. Her husband, Joe Taijeron, former House legal counsel for the CNMI Legislature, recently accepted a job on Guam, prompting the family to move earlier than planned after Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
“Saipan is our home. We never expected to leave,” she said. “But this opportunity is good for my husband and our family.”
Taijeron said her biggest contribution during her tenure was steering the agency through a difficult year marked by instability in the Korea and China markets and the sudden halt of the EVS/TAV program. She said she was proud of how the teams on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota “worked to tackle challenges with limited resources.”
She added that she hopes the agency continues two major initiatives she considers unfinished. The first is the expansion of the Philippine market, which she said had strong momentum before the typhoon and was supported by planned content creators, culinary collaborations, and promotional groups. The second is the development of a cultural and visitor experience center, a project she believes the CNMI “truly needs” to strengthen its identity and provide a centralized space for cultural interpretation.
Asked how she hopes to be remembered, Taijeron pointed to her commitment to the islands and her belief that the Marianas can position itself as a niche global destination. “I hope people remember the passion,” she said. “Each island holds a different experience, and we want people to recognize that.”
Taijeron said she does not yet have a job lined up on Guam and will focus on the move and remaining responsibilities on Saipan. She added that she would gladly support the CNMI tourism industry again in the future, in any capacity.
