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MVA puts on hold promo contract for China
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Posted on Mar 30 2005
The Marianas Visitors Authority has put on hold any decision on its advertising contract for the China market, which expires today, pending concrete action by the Legislature on MVA’s request for a $2-million supplemental budget.
MVA vice chair Marian Aldan Pierce said agency board members and managers met as scheduled on Tuesday afternoon to discuss MVA’s $465,000 deal with Ruder Finn Asia. The public relations firm currently operates MVA offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong—the four Chinese cities from which charter flights to the CNMI originate.
Pierce said however that the agency officials decided to defer action on the contract expiration until MVA receives a definite decision on its request for additional marketing money.
Ruder Finn’s initial one-year contract is renewable for another year.
In a special board meeting Monday, MVA managing director Vicky Benavente recommended renewing the contract under the current terms and conditions. She said MVA “desperately needs” the four offices right now, as the China market has been opened only recently.
However, at least one member of the MVA board of directors said MVA might have to reconsider its having four offices in China. Board member JM Guerrero noted that MVA after all has only one office in Japan, which has 70 percent share of the Northern Marianas’ overall tourism market.
“Maybe we should shut off one office in China and re-channel the funds for promotions in Japan,” Guerrero said.
Japan, the Northern Marianas’ primary tourism market, has registered decreasing arrivals in recent months.
