Making Tourism Our Business: Envisioning a #MarianasAdventure
Adventure tourism is projected to increase 17% by 2030, according to some research estimates, and the Marianas is perfectly positioned to capitalize on this growing travel trend.
The Adventure Travel Trade Association defines adventure tourism as “a tourist activity that includes physical activity, cultural exchange, or activities in nature.” It involves exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk (real or perceived), and which may require special skills and physical exertion.
Adventure tourism covers physical activity, natural environment, and/or cultural immersion. There are hard adventures or soft adventures, based on the level of risk, commitment, and skills required. Here in the Marianas where most of us live connected to the land and sea, you might say adventure is a way of life. There are a ton of adventures already available in our small islands for visitors, with the potential for more with some thoughtful entrepreneurism.
Soft adventures we have in spades…short-distance hiking in our limestone forests, snorkeling at award-winning Mañagaha and in other crystal-clear waters, kayaking and canoeing among manta rays and other marine life, free diving in Grotto, scenic aerial tours over Saipan, fishing of all types, horseback riding, sailing and other indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian cultural experiences, and more.
For the hard adventurer, the Marianas offers a wide variety of scuba diving options at award-winning sites, trekking through scenic and majestic landscapes, skydiving over the stunning lagoon and green hills of Saipan, camping in the rugged Northern Islands with its captivating image as the ultimate adventure destination, and more.
But really, there is still a lot of untapped potential that the Marianas Visitors Authority would love to see existing tourism partners and new entrepreneurs develop. How about a zipline through Marpi forest, or paragliding? Orienteering using a map and compass—either in the villages or the hills? Guided caving through the network of caves across our islands that hold historic, cultural, and geographical significance? More immersion experiences like latte site tours for visitors to understand the beauty and depth of our cultures? Thrilling rock climbing on our limestone cliffs? Seasonal and sustainable hunting of deer, goat, coconut crabs, and other wildlife?
If these tours were developed, the MVA would have an even stronger arsenal of promotional points to market to our main source markets and the rest of the world, showcasing our unique and adventurous way of life.
We can start by giving our visitors a sneak peak of what a Marianas adventure looks like today, from your personal perspective. The MVA has just launched the “Show Us Your #MarianasAdventure” video contest now through Nov. 14, 2024. Show us what your vision of a Marianas adventure looks like by submitting a video not longer than 60-seconds. We’ll be selecting the Top 10 from all submissions to be shared on our social media, with the final winner being selected by popular vote—the highest number of “likes.” We’re excited to see all the entries, which we will use to help further promote the Marianas. For full contest details, visit our social media on Instagram@TheMarianas or Facebook@VisitTheMarianas. And we’ll be giving the 1st place winner a roundtrip ticket for two from Saipan to Tokyo, so share your adventure with us today for a chance to win!
Due to its emphasis on nature, adventure tourism is the perfect type of sustainable tourism for our islands. It will allow visitors to unplug from the stress of the modern world and discover a world founded on indigenous values—respect for others, the environment, and self, and the interconnectedness of us all with the land, the ocean, and each other. It’s an opportunity to step away from the crowds, develop and appreciate our own abilities, and gain a new perspective.
Let the Marianas Adventure begin!
Christopher A. Concepcion is the managing director of the Marianas Visitors Authority.
