Officials upbeat on Chinese market
The Marianas Visitors Authority will tap the assistance of US embassies in China to promote the Northern Marianas as a premier tropical destination for Chinese travelers.
This, as MVA Acting Managing Director Vicky Benavente vowed to reconstruct marketing and promotional funds that will be distributed evenly to all existing and new markets.
Following the inaugural flight of the China Southern Air to the Northern Marianas Saturday, the MVA saw the need to reconstruct funding allocation to all key markets—including China.
Benavente said the MVA is waiting for the complete resolution of all navigational concerns between the U.S. and China before full-blast promotional activities are undertaken in other major Chinese cities.
“Once it is freed from any concerns, then we can boost our promotional and advertising campaign. We will do to China what we have been doing to Japan,” said the acting managing director.
She added that the MVA would maximize promotional activities in China through the reconstruction of marketing funds, which should be distributed evenly to all existing and potential markets.
“The Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino had done its part in securing these chartered flights to help the CNMI. They have been using their own money and it is about time that we do our part,” Benavente pointed out.
With the arrival of the China Southern Air, the CNMI is anticipated to receive at least 19,000 additional tourists.
The move to promote the CNMI to the Chinese market also earned the support of the administration. Gov. Juan N. Babauta will request assistance from all U.S. embassies in key cities in China to help disseminate information about the CNMI.
“The government and the Office of the Washington Representative will tap the assistance of the embassies and liaison offices abroad to help us promote the CNMI. It will be distributing hand outs and other information to prevent fictitious processing,” Babauta said.
