Chinese media groups check out NMI

The Northern Marianas recently hosted three media groups from China, as part of the Marianas Visitors Authority’s efforts to increase destination awareness in the Chinese tourism market.

MVA reported that a reporter, a photographer, and a model from a popular Hong Kong magazine visited Saipan and Tinian in the middle of July. The East Touch Magazine crew conducted took pictures and inspected scenic spots and historical sites in both islands. They also participated in marine and other entertainment activities and sampled the restaurants.

Acquired by Global China Group Holdings Ltd. in 2002, East Touch is one of the popular Hong Kong publications targeting both male and female readers aged 16 to 28. The magazine covers stories of celebrities, entertainment news, fashion trends, and lifestyle topics.

About 12 pages of the magazine’s August 2005 issue will feature its coverage of the Northern Marianas.

A television company from China also sent a crew in the last week of July to film a documentary about World War II sites on both Saipan and Tinian.

China Century TV6 conducted on-site interviews with a World War II survivor, Escolas-tica Cabrera, with the help of Historic Preservation Office historian Genevieve Cabrera.

MVA said the 15-minute documentary would broadcast in October 2005, with an estimated advertising value of $127,000. CCTV6 has a viewership of 780,000.

Aside from information gathering, the CCTV6 crew also had a chance to visit Managaha, watch cultural performances, and shop at DFS Galleria.

In early August, another group from Hong Kong visited Saipan and Tinian to take photographs for an issue of Go Fun Magazine and Guidebook, which will be published at the end of August 2005.

“The group was working on creating a guidebook in simplified Chinese, which will include 10 pages of the CNMI travel logs. The Go Fun publication is a tourism direct mail magazine in Guangzhou, which serves to the Guangdong Tourism Board. They are working with Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino in publishing a special edition for the Marianas,” said MVA acting deputy managing director Martin Duenas.

“Additionally, the tourism information will be published in the Yangcheng Evening News, New Express, Information Times, and New Modern Magazine. These are influential publications in the Guangdong market. From these publications, we hope to increase our visitor arrival from the China market,” Duenas added.

MVA members that contributed to the familiarization tours are the Marianas Public Lands Authority, Korean Tours Bureau, SandCastle Saipan, Capricciosa and Tony Roma’s, Keeraku and Rakuen Restaurant, Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, Pacific Subsea Saipan Inc., Tasi Tours and Transportation, Mariana Resort and Spa, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Couture Naoco Saipan, Paradise Scooter, and Big Boyz.