Micronesia accepting proposals for 5-star eco-lodge resort in Pohnpei

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have been trying for a long time to become a bigger player in the travel and tourism industry, but with lack of air connectivity and lack of hotel infrastructure, the region has been deprived of a sizeable industry to speak of. Right now the only airlines serving the region is United, and as a monopoly, it charges very high airfares, because it can.

Despite its limitations, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) recently held its Annual Summit on Guam this past May, and PATA’s Micronesia Tri-Annual Meeting is set to take place from August 15-18 in Pohnpei. PATA’s Annual Summit was the first real opportunity for the FSM to develop a project that could actually bring in much-needed tourism dollars to the country. Having a large 5-star hotel on Pohnpei will open up opportunities for competition with other hotels in Micronesia as well as open up the possibility of other airlines scheduling flights to the area, which will create competitive airfares.

This host to the nation’s capital has much to offer the visiting nature lover, explorer and hiker. Pohnpei is the largest and tallest island in the FSM. The island provides great outdoor activities for tourists, including spectacular waterfalls, rich mangrove forests, and speaking diving. A short boat trip can be made to two neighboring atolls, Ant and Pakin, that exude the aura of paradise unspoiled. And for the curious, there is still much to be learned about the mysterious Nan Madol ruins, called the Venice of the Pacific – a manmade city with ocean-filled channels that once housed a thriving, royal civilization whose remnants of an ancient Pohnpeian civilization are still being studied and explored.

The Pohnpei State Government (PSG) is requesting proposals from qualified service providers for a Feasibility Study for a proposed world-class, 5-star, up to 200-room, eco-friendly resort hotel, with beach frontage, built to international standards, located on the island of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. The objective of this resort hotel is to attract high-end, international visitors that will come to Pohnpei mainly to enjoy the natural beauty of its many impressive waterfalls and explore the ancient ruins of Nan Madol, nominated for designation as a UN World Heritage site. This resort’s proposed location(s) can be government or privately-owned land with clear title, existing, and/or reclaimed. Environmental concerns, e.g., minimal disturbance to the islands unique resources and mangroves that surround Pohnpei are important parts of this study.

The resort will act as an “anchor enterprise,” stimulating additional international airline service; increased consumption of local food and beverages; increased taxi, sport fishing, surfing, dive, tour operator services, and handicraft sales; as well as increased bookings at the other hotels on the island as a result of its international marketing campaign. In particular, this resort will raise the total number of available hotel rooms in Pohnpei from 250 to approximately 450, thus positioning Pohnpei to attract small to medium international Pacific conferences. As such, this resort hotel will also contain a multi-purpose conference/meeting room/exhibition facility capable of accommodating up to 500 individuals. It will also have appropriate restaurants/bars as well as all other facilities typical of a five-star facility. In particular, the resort will deploy state-of-the-art green energy and water supply technology, so as to serve as a model, as well as an additional tourist attraction for the Pacific hospitality sector.

As a generator of at least 50 direct jobs, the resort hotel complex will create another estimated 250 indirect positions in the local companies that provide services to the hotel and its clients. The total of new jobs will support, by a multiplier of 10 individuals per family, a total of 3,000 citizens of Pohnpei, or almost 10 percent of the current population of the island.

This resort property will primarily serve, in short, as a magnet for the growing number of eco-tourists in the 50-plus age demographic that have the time and financial resources to visit an ecologically-attractive tropical island in the Pacific.

Proposals must be received electronically via email by the Office of Economic Affairs, Pohnpei FM 96941 no later than August 22, 2016 at 5:00 pm. All proposals received must be clearly marked: PSG/OEA, POHNPEI PROJECT “Feasibility Study, Five Star Eco-Lodge Resort” and addressed to:

Mr. Romeo Walter
Acting Administrator
Office of Economic Affairs
Pompei State Governemnt
Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
Federated States of Micronesia
Email: [email protected]

Copies must also be submitted to:

Clara Halvorsen
Office of Tourism
Pohnpei State Government
Email: [email protected]

Marshall Ferrin
Aid Coordination Specialist
Pohnpei State Government
Email: [email protected]