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Asiana execs, China tour agents visit NMI
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Posted on Oct 31 2005
A total of 38 representatives from Asiana Airlines and tour agents visited Saipan and Tinian to promote the CNMI as a destination in Northern China.
Shun Seo Cho, Korean sales manager at Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, said the group tour—held from Oct. 27 to Oct. 30—was specifically “to promote the CNMI as a tourist destination in China.”
“They want to create packages from China to Saipan. They said they really had a good experience here and they want to bring many Chinese travelers here. They said Saipan would be a best travel spot for Chinese people,” said Cho yesterday.
He said the visitors had been to many places on Saipan and Tinian and were “very impressed with the clean beaches.”
Cho said the group was confident that the CNMI’s Approved Destination Status from the Chinese government would boost the China market.
The CNMI received in late December 2004 the ADS, putting the Commonwealth on the Chinese government’s list of destinations for Chinese tourists. The People’s Republic of China encourages its citizens to travel in groups overseas.
Over a week ago, the Shanghai Luwan District Tourism Administration brought 23 newlyweds and 80 honeymoon couples to Saipan for a weeklong tour package.
Cho said that the Asiana Airline group’s trip was done through the Marianas Visitors Authority and the airline company.
Asiana Airlines flies regularly between China and Seoul. Through a connecting flight in Seoul, the airline brings passengers to Saipan.
Among those who took part in the trip was Myeong Young Moon, Asiana Airlines’ general manager for passenger department in China, and Cai Yab, the airline’s regional sales manager in Beijing. Representatives of two tour agencies included Piao Jianhua and Cui Dong Ming.
