NMC sees influx of Korean students
The Northern Marianas College is expecting the arrival of over 175 Korean international students to pursue short-term English language courses at the college beginning January 2001, following efforts by Hotel Riviera Saipan’s Korean promoters to lure more foreign students to avail of the Northern Marianas’ “Destination Education” experience.
Hotel Riviera Saipan disclosed it has linked with four tour agencies in Korea to tap different elementary schools, colleges, and universities in four major Korean cities in this first ever CNMI promotional venture.
Doo Jin Kim, Hotel Riviera general manager, confirmed that the students will be arriving in five different groups of 35 in Jan. 10, 17, 21, 31 and Feb. 7 aboard Pusan-Saipan direct flights.
The students will be accompanied by their parents and will be staying for a six-day period at the Hotel Riviera Saipan while they take short-term classes at NMC.
Hotel Riviera’s Korean promoters City Air Travel, Costa World, Expo Tour and Marine Tour Agent has arranged the flight schedules for the incoming international students.
In Korea, the travel agencies are also conducting massive promotional efforts through ads and city-wide school student recruitment.
“This is the first time that we have made this effort and we see a very good potential,” said Mr. Kim.
NMC and Hotel Riviera recently unveiled plans to work closely in bringing in more foreign students by providing them secured and comfortable dwellings while on island.
The Hotel Riviera management has opened up the 143-bedroom establishment situated beside the college campus to serve as a dormitory for international students at substantially low occupancy fees.
For international students, special rates will apply starting with a $350 twin room double occupancy per month or a daily rate of $35 per individual.
Starting next year, Hotel Riviera is set to introduce new occupancy rates for foreign students who would opt to stay at the Riviera.
According to Mr. Kim, since the economic downturn, Koreans have preferred to visit places closest to Korea.
“The closer the destination, it makes it more attractive for Koreans versus going to Hawaii or the mainland,” said Mr. Kim.
While on island partly for leisure, the students will also be attending sessions on Intensive English Language Learning which is especially convenient for students from within the Asia Pacific Rim. The IELL is a program of NMC’s Language Department, which has been serving students from Micronesia and the Pacific Rim for over 15 years.
