MVA partners seek to boost arrival experience
Saipan Travel Inc. president Tom Liu, center, donates 150 chairs to the Commonwealth Ports Authority at the Francisco C. Ada- Saipan International Airport arrivals corridor on Feb. 14, 2017. From left are Marianas Visitors Authority acting managing director Judy Torres, CPA deputy executive director Edward Mendiola, Liu, CPA executive director Chris Tenorio, and MVA marketing manager Bruce Bateman. (MVA)
Tourism partners of the Marianas Visitors Authority are stepping up to provide a more welcoming experience for arriving visitors at the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport.
On Feb. 14, Saipan Travel Inc. donated 150 chairs to the airport for use in the arrivals corridor, where hundreds of passengers queue daily in the early hours of the day for immigration clearance.
“Through the [MVA] China Ad Hoc Committee meeting, we decided that the committee should be part of community efforts to improve the tourist experience when they first arrive,” said Saipan Travel Inc. president and China Ad Hoc Committee chair Tom Liu. “That’s why we decided to get these chairs, so that in the event they need to wait in line, there’s a place where the elderly or younger ones can sit if they want to after a long flight.”
The chairs will be added to the 68 chairs recently moved by the Commonwealth Ports Authority to the arrivals corridor.
According to CPA executive director Chris Tenorio, CPA has also ordered another 200 chairs that are scheduled to arrive in about four weeks.
“We’re very grateful to Saipan Travel Inc. and CPA for making some seating available in the arrivals corridor and making the immigration waiting time a little more comfortable for our arriving visitors,” said MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “More of our members are also stepping forward to assist, and we welcome any and all support on the local side, while we continue to seek assistance on the federal side to expedite processing.”
Flametree TV has also committed to donating several large-screen TVs to provide information and entertainment in the area, and the MVA is procuring water dispensers, as well.
The Marianas receives nearly 2,000 visitors daily during high peak periods. (MVA)
While the intent is there, I can foresee most of the chairs (and water) “gone missing”
The next thing is will the deplaning passengers have access to rest rooms while awaiting clearance processing? If drinking water may cause problems is no access to a rest room.
Not knowing the travel circumstances and embarkation areas also how many are charter and scheduled flights,Also how many apssengers are on connection flight in China to get to the CNMI, I would assume that it is possible to reschedule and put more distance in between the times of many of the flights to alleviate much of the congestion, especially in Saipan as there is no onward connecting flights to Hawaii or the US mainland from China flights.
Years ago when I was piloting we had to work out and reschedule between other airlines many of our scheduled flights in other areas due to flight congestion at certain destinations.