$60,000 in NMI publicity with upcoming media visits

The Northern Mariana Islands is set to receive an estimated $60,000 in publicity after two familiarization tours by Korean media outlets over the next couple weeks.

Hankook Ilbo reporter Sung-Won Lee arrived on Saipan to experience the island and prepare a feature article for the daily newspaper, one of Korea’s major national papers with a circulation of a million readers.

Hankook Ilbo is anticipated to promote the Northern Marianas as a family travel destination. Lee’s visit to Saipan is expected to include an island tour, snorkeling and underwater sea walking off Managaha Island, a monster truck off-road adventure, an evening of shopping at DFS Galleria, and jet skiing or parasailing. The reporter will stay at Saipan World Resort and also have time to enjoy the resort water park during his tour before his departure on Feb. 3.

“We are fortunate to have Hankook Ilbo see value in the Northern Marianas as a tourist destination and give us widespread publicity,” said Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio. “While fewer Koreans—and tourists worldwide—are visiting long-haul destinations during this economic downturn, the Northern Marianas still offers a close vacation option.”

Next Tuesday, Korean monthly magazine Tour de Monde will send editors Eun-Gee Kim and Ju-Eun Bae to experience the Northern Mariana Islands for six days and write a feature article to increase awareness of the islands. The tour will take an island tour and lodge at Rota Resort and Country Club, where they will also inspect the golf course. On Tinian they will take another island tour and stay at the world-class Tinian Dynasty Resort & Casino. On Saipan they will spend a morning of fun in the sun at Managaha Island, tour the island, and enjoy the water park and accommodations of Saipan World Resort.

Since the first publication in 1996, Tour De Monde has been highly recognized as a unique travel guidebook for people who love to travel. With a circulation of 50,000 readers, the magazine features vivid stories about various cities, people, cultures, festivals and food around the globe.

The fam tour is supported by Saipan World Resort, Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, and Rota Resort and Country Club, providing accommodation and meals; Mode Tour, providing discount airfare to Rota; KPS Corp., providing a discounted rate on the off-road adventure tour; and Tasi Tour, providing free Managaha Ferry transportation and snorkeling gear rental.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]