CPA board member upbeat after Guam-CNMI visa waiver talks

A Commonwealth Ports Authority board member said the recent Guam meeting on the proposed Guam-CNMI visa waiver produced encouraging discussions, with participants citing international examples they believe could strengthen the proposal before it is submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Juan S. Salas, CPA board member representing Saipan, said the gathering at the Guam International Airport Authority was the second working group meeting focused on compiling information that will eventually be presented to DHS as part of the visa waiver proposal.

"The CNMI visa waiver, it's actually pretty good, because there was a study conducted by the economist in Guam," Salas said. "She did a presentation that the Philippines visa waiver to Australia, there was a good number of tourists going to Australia, which is a good sign, right?"

Salas said participants hope the proposal ultimately receives federal approval because it could benefit tourism in both Guam and the CNMI.

"Hopefully it does, the Homeland Security does approve the Guam CNMI waiver so that we can share tourism numbers between Guam and the CNMI," he said.

Salas said Guam Visitors Bureau chair George Chiu also pointed to Taiwan as another example of how visa-free travel for Philippine nationals has helped boost visitor arrivals, saying it could serve as a useful model as stakeholders continue advancing the proposal.

Salas said the proposed waiver could also improve air service to the Northern Mariana Islands.

"Definitely it will provide us more air seats and hopefully more airlines that can fly here or come here to the CNMI," he said.

He said members of the Philippine delegation welcomed the discussions and expressed support for the initiative.

"They're very receptive, they're also looking forward to this agreement or the Guam CNMI visa waiver," Salas said.

Salas said no representative from the Department of Homeland Security attended the Guam meeting. Instead, delegates from Guam, the Philippines, and the CNMI were tasked with compiling information for submission to DHS by Sept. 1, after which another working group meeting is expected.

Salas attended the meeting on behalf of CPA chair Bartley Jackson.