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NMI gets $.5M in free publicity
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Posted on Aug 12 2005
The Northern Marianas earned over half a million dollars in free exposure value by sponsoring Japanese media familiarization trips to the islands last month, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
MVA reported that writers from three publications in Japan visited the Northern Marianas in July to cover water and land activities, as well as community events, and to gather updated information about Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The publications—PIA Map, Pupyrus, and Continental In-Flight Magazine—have a total circulation of 440,000 copies in Japan.
Tokyo Broadcasting System, one of the top three television networks in Japan, also sent a crew to film a special program on Saipan and Tinian featuring the 60th anniversary of World War II.
MVA said the TBS crew visited the atomic bomb pits in Tinian and interviewed victims of the Hiroshima bombing “to reemphasize the tragedy and the damage of the atomic bomb.”
Overall, the Northern Marianas received $526,133 in free exposure value out of these media tours, MVA said.
Furthermore, MVA supported a tour for Continental Airlines travel agents. Fourteen key agents traveled from Niigata, Japan to familiarize themselves with Saipan and Rota.
Participating travel agents are Top Travel, Free Way Tour, First Travel Service, Kubiki Tourist, Travel Jyoetsu, Shinko Kikaku, Kyoritsu Kanko, Nokyo Tourist, and Univ Co-Op Tourist.
The group visited several tourist sites and also took part in various activities available for tourists.
“The first hand experience allows travels agents to create Marianas packages during the Shimoki period, from October through March, to sell the Marianas destinations to their clients,” said MVA managing director Vicky Benavente. “The Marianas receives approximately 1,500 tourists from the Tohoku region monthly. We are confident that the agents’ experience of the Marianas was very positive and hope that they share this experience to their clients in anticipation that their clients select the Marianas as the destination of choice.”
MVA sponsors familiarization tours through the support of MVA members, who provide complimentary rooms, meals, and discounted services for the participants. (Agnes E. Donato)
