MVA gears up for promo campaigns in FY ‘05

The Marianas Visitors Authority introduced many promotional campaigns in the past years, and a few of these campaigns have evolved into programs that have become expected by the travel trade community abroad.

These campaigns provide promotional value for the destination. As part of this year’s “See My Marianas” campaign, these on-island coordinated campaigns, contest and promotions will be the pinnacle in attracting more visitors to the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, especially during the low periods of the year.

Beginning this fiscal year, the MVA unveiled its Bisita Marianas campaign in December 2004. The 13-month campaign is designed to entice Guam and military travelers to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota for a minimum two-night stay while providing significant value of savings in the Marianas Value-Pak.

The Value-Pak is a coupon booklet offering a variety of savings from hotel accommodations, services on optional tours, discounted meal coupons and more.

This coming April, the MVA will launch two additional campaigns targeting group and diving markets, while also supporting the travel agents in Korea in a Volume Incentive Promotion.

The group campaign will offer benefits to arriving groups of 20 people or more. The MVA coordinated this program with major travel wholesalers and retailers in Japan, the Japan Saipan Travel Association, and its membership to provide discounted privileges in shopping and fine dining facilities.

The Diving Photo Contest will attract the CNMI’s largest repeat visitors for a chance to submit their underwater photos for various prizes amounting from $500 to $2,000.

Advertising of this Diving Photo Contest has been done in Japan with two major publications, Umi To Shima No Tabi and Marine Diver magazine.

A Umi To Shima No Tabi writer and photographer will be visiting the CNMI this month for a feature of the underwater fascinations and above-water tourist sites. Promoting this contest in Korea is being done through the Marianas On-line Club, while in China, it is merely providing information to those interested.

The Volume Incentive Promotion, tailored for travel agents in Korea, is a tie-up program with Asiana Airlines to increase visitor arrivals to the CNMI. The MVA and Asiana Airlines offer various incentives to travel agents to increase the CNMI’s arrivals by 10-20 percent.

By doing so, the MVA supports travel agents by assisting in advertising and Asiana Airlines by providing complimentary tickets to the travel agents who exceed their sales quotas.

In July, the MVA will once again coordinate the Happy Children in Paradise summer campaign.

Every child 11-years-old and under will receive a Saipan-da collectible. This year’s collectible will be a Saipan-da backpack with a Saipan, Tinian, and Rota logo water bottle.

“Given the islands’ attributes of a summer climate all year round, this year’s giveaway will be an ideal gift to the arriving children,” said MVA managing director Vicky Benavente.

The summer program will also entail a life-size version of Saipan-da greeting arriving passengers at the airport from 1pm to 4pm and from 1am to 4am daily.

“We are optimistic that these promotions will bring in more visitors this year. We will continue to progress and develop better awareness of the destination in all markets for the CNMI,” added Benavente. (PR)