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MVA scraps sending cultural dancers abroad
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Posted on Apr 26 1999
Due to limited funds, the Marianas Visitors Authority will no longer be able to send cultural dancers abroad to perform during trade shows as part of its promotional campaign, according to Perry J. Tenorio, managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Usually, MVA sends a minimum of eight performers to various trade shows to represent the island’s culture. The last time it sent a group of performers was in Cheju, Korea in 1998 where Korean officials covered the airfare and accommodation for a month.
Cultural presentations have also been a part of the promotion in Japan, the CNMI’s main source of tourists, during its promotional campaign there.
As foreign travelers become more discriminating in their choice of destination, MVA would like to highlight the unique culture of Chamorros and Carolinians.
With the stiff competition in the travel industry, the CNMI must find a different way of exciting tourists so that they would come back and stay longer in the Northern Marianas, said Dave M. Sablan, chair of the MVA board.
Sablan earlier met with Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Tom Tebuteb and Carolinian Affairs Executive Assistant Frank Rabauliman, where he asked for their help to come up with programs that will showcase the arts, crafts, dances and songs of the Northern Marianas.
Sablan noted that the CNMI lacks night activity for tourists, except going to Karaokes and night clubs. According to Sablan, this can be remedied by having a program in the evening that will tap the local talents. (Lindablue F. Romero)
