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Japanese travel agents attend tourism academy
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Posted on Mar 13 2000
Visiting the island they have been selling in Japan is the best way to market the destination and tell the Japanese tourists that it is worth their time and money.
Some 29 travel agents and airline representatives from Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Osaka arrived here on March 8-11 to participate in the 6th Marianas Tourism Academy. The promotional tour is sponsored by the Marianas Visitors Authority in cooperation with Japan Air Lines Group of Companies.
During the graduation ceremony attended by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, officials from MVA and JAL, the delegates were all one in saying that the CNMI’s best asset is its clean and unspoiled environment.
Among the CNMI’s best assets: different golf courses, availability of shopping malls, clean beaches. Before coming to the CNMI, they had no idea how to compete with the price war in selling a destination.
But there is one advise they would like to give the Northern Marianas: “organize more quality oriented tours.”
MVA has assured travel professionals that the Northern Marianas is a safe destination for tourists as CNMI officials continue to create and maintain better facilities to ensure that guests enjoy their stay on the island.
Although the CNMI has been affected by the ongoing crisis in the Asian region, MVA believes that the future of tourism in the Commonwealth remains bright.
Only three hours away from Japan, the island will remain an attractive destination for Japanese travelers because of its tropical climate and crystal clear waters, Mr. Tenorio said.
Japanese travelers accounted for 75 percent of the total visitor arrivals of 526,298 in 1998. Most large hotels and golf courses on the island are owned by Japanese.
Currently, MVA has some 4,000 rooms on the islands of Rota, Tinian and Saipan and the tourism office hopes that some 2,000 rooms would still be added.
