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MVA reaches 50,000 Marine Dive Fair attendees in Japan
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Posted on Apr 17 2009
Diving opportunities in the Northern Mariana Islands were touted by the Marianas Visitors Authority to over 50,000 attendees at this month’s annual Marine Diving Fair in Japan.
The Marine Diving Fair is that country’s leading consumer diving show. This year MVA hosted two information booths at the event, held April 3-5, 2009, at Ikebukuro Sunshine City in Tokyo.
“As Japan is our primary market and diving is one of our biggest attractions on Saipan, Tinian and Rota, the Marine Diving Fair is a perfect opportunity to promote our islands,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “From our many shore dives to the Grotto, voted the world’s No. 2 cavern diving spot by Skin Diver magazine, the diving opportunities are numerous and growing.”
In addition to MVA staff, the event was attended by Hitoshi Yamaguichi, vice president of the Northern Marianas Dive Operations Association; Megumi Takaku of dive shop Blue Palms on Rota; and Takeshi Yamauchi of dive shop S2 Club.
In addition to sharing information about the CNMI’s diving opportunities, a quiz game was held April 5 with prizes donated by MVA members and Northwest Airlines supplying two complimentary air tickets from Narita to Saipan as the grand prize.
Akiko Endo from Tasi Tours and Transportation attended the award ceremony on behalf of MVA on April 3, where Managaha Island was selected as the Best Snorkeling Spot for the sixth consecutive year.
The fair had 51,825 total registered participants. Saipan, Tinian and Rota hosted just over 33,000 scuba divers last year and are working to significantly increase that number over the next three years. [B][I](MVA)[/I][/B]
