AFTER more than five months of waiting for a response from the Marianas Visitors Authority, a lawmaker once again requested MVA to disclose the royalties it receives from the Saipanda transactions.
Rep. Joseph C. Reyes, R-Saipan, first sent his inquiry to MVA in June, asking for details and information about the Saipanda program.
Last Friday, he sent a follow-up letter to MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio.
MVA has been using the Saipanda mascot as a promotional item since 2000.
Reyes noted that MVA granted copyright and marketing rights to local businesses for the mascot’s production and marketing.
“I would like to know of compensation/royalty that MVA receives if any,” he said in his letter to the agency. “Furthermore, please let me know if the marketing is only within the CNMI or inclusive of other MVA established offices outside of the CNMI.”
Reyes is the chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism.
Some residents believe that Saipanda does not truly reflect the Marianas people and culture.
Some said the mascot may mislead visitors into thinking that Saipan is home to the panda.
The Tokyo advertising company Dentsu 10 created the Saipanda mascot, a character which resembles a panda bear with a rhinoceros horn nose.
It supposedly symbolizes the male Japanese traveler who is a repeat visitor and is “crazy” about Saipan.
Reyes said MVA should promote island artists and musicians and coordinate with the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands to promote local cultural programs and musicians at the hotels.
