Handicap travelers: a potential market for CNMI
In a move to cash in on growing market of Japanese travelers with disabilities, the Pacific Development Inc. and the Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council asked the Marianas Visitors Authority to make the CNMI accessible to handicap travelers.
The potential market worth of Japanese tourists with disabilities is estimated at 450 billion yen. The actual market is only one-fifth of that, or 90 billion yen. Travel spending per person is placed at 25, 210 yen.
According to Yoichi Matsumura, PDI general manager, the number of travelers with disabilities has steadily increased due to available resources such as motorized and standard wheelchairs allowing convenient access.
Many Japanese tour agents are expanding their services by extending their resources as some areas like Hawaii and Australia have made available accessible aquatic equipment.
Unfortunately, Japanese travelers with disabilities have encountered situations in which a few travel destinations of their choice offer very limited information to assist them such as brochures on accessible leisure activities, hotel’s accessibility, rentals of assistive technology devices and/or equipment such as motorized wheelchairs or scooters.
PDI has seen an increase in the number of handicap travelers it has handled in the past few years despite the unavailability of facilities and available resources. “Such travelers were limited to only certain services… because of the limited resources. This issue, however, can be addressed by providing the necessary equipment,” Mr. Matsumura said.
In Saipan, a paralyzed Japanese male tourist was given a parasailing ride by Saipan E Tours, an experience which the visitor and his wife will cherish for a long time.
Aside from its proximity to Japan, the CNMI’s environment and atmosphere are also favorable for such travelers. Mr. Matsumura has asked the assistance of MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio for the purchase of the needed equipment, including wheelchairs and aquatic device.
A study conducted by Kinki Nippon Tourist Planning Section, handicap persons travel abroad on the average of 1.5 times per year. Few destinations have developed materials to help handicapped travelers.
Tour operators in Japan have been accommodating the needs of travelers with disabilities as JALPAK has provided wheelchairs that can be driven into the seashore at a destination like Hawaii.
At the same time, wheelchairs with low air pressured tires provided free to tour participants were made available by the same company as early as 1997. Beach picnic by wheelchairs or “barrier free beach” where people can enjoy beach picnic started in Oarai Sun Beach in Oarimachi Tochigi-ken.
DD Council Executive Director Thomas J. Camacho said the agency has always supported the promotion of accessible travel for the past two years and aggressively advocated for improved accessible and affordable public transportation.
It has also published a resource guidebook called Access Saipan, Tinian and Rota which offer valuable information especially to both local and visiting tourists with disabilities. “Without such needed information, tourists from all over would more than likely decline traveling to certain travel spots,” he said.
Mr. Matsumura said PDI sees the need to purchase certain assistive technology devices and/or equipment to ensure the convenience of visiting tourists with disabilities in the CNMI.
The issue on who would procure these assistive technology equipment should be discussed and ironed out with the Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands to make sure that tourists with disabilities are accommodated.
