The Marianas Visitors Authority said yesterday that it failed to get the promised $1 million for advertising from the previous administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never received it,\u201d said MVA board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce and MVA acting managing director Tess Castro during a meeting Monday.<\/p>\n
As a result, the MVA said it had to use its already depleted budget for needed programs.<\/p>\n
It cited that it had to commit $250,000 of its budget for the launching and development of the Osaka destination.<\/p>\n
This happened when Northwest Airlines added a new flight from Osaka when Japan Airlines pulled out from the CNMI last October.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have committed to support them for the Osaka launch. The $1 million was to augment our advertising budget,\u201d said Castro. <\/p>\n
Happy children program rescued <\/p>\n
The MVA board approved yesterday to go ahead with the annual Happy Children in Paradise summer program this year.<\/p>\n
This program was already \u201csacrificed\u201d by the MVA management from the agency\u2019s budget this year due to belt-tightening.<\/p>\n
Board members, however, said that removing the program would affect the image of Saipan as a destination.<\/p>\n
Member B.K. Park said the CNMI should have consistency with its overseas marketing programs.<\/p>\n
Happy Children in Paradise is designed to attract children tourists.<\/p>\n
During summer, MVA gives away souvenir items including a Saipanda backpack, to children tourists aged 11 years old and below.<\/p>\n
Meantime, despite reservations by some members, the board approved yesterday to sponsor a 42K marathon in June. The MVA is spending $25,000 for this activity.<\/p>\n
MVA said at least 130 participants would come to Saipan for the event, which is set in June.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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