The year is not over yet but the Marianas Visitors Authority is already calling it a banner year for Marianas tourism and is looking at the next year to solidify its hold on what it calls the Big 3\u2014the source markets of South Korea, China, and Japan.<\/p>\n
During last Thursday\u2019s MVA general membership meeting at the Royal Taga Hall of Saipan World Resort, MVA managing director Chris Concepcion said, \u201cWe are very satisfied with how our marketing plans have played from the Big 3 in 2017.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CNMI\u2019s tourism sector grew 30 percent this year compared to last year, \u201cwhich is a tremendous accomplishment because it is the fourth highest year in Marianas tourism history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Concepcion said that fiscal year 2017 was a banner year for the Marianas, with 653,150 total visitor arrivals. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think a little more growth like 5 to 10 percent is stable and sustainable,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
According to Concepcion, different marketing tools are being maximized to capture more travelers from Korea, China, and Japan.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach market is different, each market has its own do\u2019s and don\u2019ts, positives, and negatives. So here at MVA headquarters, our guidance and direction to our marketing arm in the three source countries is always there. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are rolling out marketing plans for [fiscal year] 2018. We are going to continue on rebranding in Japan to boost the Japanese numbers who come to the Marianas, the China market is still a growing market and the potential there is massive. The Korean market has been our consistent visitors mostly throughout the year and marketing efforts definitely play an important part in that,\u201d said Concepcion.<\/p>\n
MVA board chair Gloria Cavanagh said the efforts done externally to promote the Marianas will continue to flourish, but also emphasized that partnership with the Legislature is invaluable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have developed greater communication with the Legislature over the decade. One great example is MVA\u2019s commencement of the Tour Guide Certification Program last month. This was made possible when the Legislature enacted Public Law 18-58 and lately improved it by revising provisions for enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a result, over 200 tour guides and 42 tour operators have already signed up for the program. Our first batch of official Marianas guides just took their final exams last Friday (Nov. 3). Currently, there are additional 75 enrollees in 20 hours of training at Northern Marianas College and 100 more waiting on the list. This step ensures our visitors have a safe, informative, and enjoyable visit in the Marianas,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Whatever MVA has done in terms of marketing the Marianas in 2017, MVA hopes to double in 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a strong marketing arm that extends the MVA\u2019s mission and vision on how we want the world to see the Marianas. We will continue to saturate every opportunity so it will translate to more visitors to the Marianas,\u201d Concepcion said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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