Moving Forward with Federal Partnerships on Tourism Recovery
Last week, we welcomed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Jared Smith and his team from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the CNMI for a firsthand look at our economy and the challenges we face. We committed to working together to take action, with one major step being the creation of a federal interagency group that brings together the Departments of Transportation and Commerce. This group will combine federal expertise and resources to tackle the challenge of reviving the Marianas’ most critical industry — tourism. Earlier this morning, we met to plan how this group will function and move forward. I was able to meet the team, share updates from our industry, and relay the concerns raised by our tourism partners. I am immensely grateful for their collaboration and for their willingness to work with the CNMI to get this job done.