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MVA thanks JAL for fare discounts
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Posted on Feb 10 1999
Marianas Visitors Authority board chairman Dave M. Sablan yesterday urged Japan Airlines officials to continue helping the CNMI revive its ailing tourism economy which has been bettered by Asia’s financial crisis.
In a letter to JAL, Sablan expressed appreciation for offering discounted rates on three occasions in Japan — Mother’s Day on May 9, Father’s Day on June 20 and Tanabata (Festival of the Weaver) on July 7 to entice more Japanese to come here.
He sent a letter to Yukiharu Enomoto, district director, Kaishun Nishigaya, general manager and Shinzo Suto, senior managing director. Sablan said he hopes the airline’s partnership with the CNMI would remain so that it can assist the tourism officials in promoting the Northern Marianas.
The reduction in rate was part of the airline’s commitment to help the CNMI recover its market share in Japan. Last month, the airline launched its “JAL-Saipan Campaign” targeting some 15,000 additional visitors.
With its huge investment on the island, JAL has aggressively carried out promotional campaigns to increase visitor arrivals from Japan which has continuously declined as a result of the economic crisis.
According to Nishigaya, JAL’s campaign last month attracted an additional 17,523 passengers from Narita and Osaka, a 28 percent jump over January 1998. The increase in arrivals was due to the six chartered flights between Nagoya and Saipan.
An in-flight video which will feature the CNMI’s scenic spots which will specifically sell the island as a golfing destination will be shown in all its domestic and international flights this year.
The CNMI, on the other hand, has hired Tokyo-based Dentsu Inc., the $1.9 million contract to help promote the CNMI in Japan after almost five months of search and screening.
Dentsu will introduce Saipan’s mascot named Saipanda, in a move to differentiate the island from neighboring Guam.
