CNMI, Guam plan tie-up in tourism
While both the Northern Marianas and Guam are seeking for a bigger market share in Japan, the Marianas Visitors Authority is exploring ways on how it can work closely with Guam Visitors Bureau in promoting the Micronesian region.
GVB has raised the possibility of working with MVA in holding a regional promotion of Micronesia during the World Travel Fair in Tokyo in November.
MVA board chair Dave M. Sablan noted the need for the agency to make a decision on which areas both agencies can work together as GVB has shown keen interest in cooperating with CNMI tourism officials.
Although both are competing for the same market, Sablan believes that MVA and GVB can still find ways on how they can help each other carry out some projects approved by the board.
In November last year, MVA attended the World Travel Fair, the biggest gathering of travel agents in Japan, sponsored by the Japan Travel Association.
In 1998, the three-day event was participated in by more than 130 exhibitors and 12,500 travel industry representatives as well as over 77,000 Japanese consumers.
The Northern Marianas and Guam have been fiercely competing for the declining travel market in Japan for many years now but with CNMI’s limited promotional budget, tourism officials have not been able to carry out an all out marketing campaign.
On the other hand, GVB has been very aggressive in its marketing campaign to lure back Japanese tourists to Guam which has likewise suffered a double-digit decline in visitor arrivals.
With the hiring of a Japanese advertising agency, many tour companies are hoping that this would help MVA develop a distinct image for the Northern Marianas as a destination.
Many Japanese travel agencies have expressed concern on the apparent failure of some tour companies in Japan to differentiate the CNMI and Guam in selling both destinations to Japanese travelers.
Norman Berg, marketing manager of MVA, said the board would have to clearly define as soon as possible the extent of its cooperation with GVB because any decision may have an effect on the promotional plans later on.