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More tourists coming in for Chinese New Year
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Posted on Jan 23 2009
[B]By MONETH G. DEPOSA[/B]
[I]moneth_deposa@saipantribune
REPORTER[/I]
REPORTER[/I]
More tourists from China are expected to fly to the CNMI in celebration of the Lunar New Year, according to Pacific Oriental Inc., which handles the flight schedules from the destination.
POI Aviation general manager Frank Camacho yesterday said Air China is adding five extra flights to the island which started last week.
Approximately 800 tourists from Beijing will be on island until early next month, he added.
Shanghai Airlines is also bringing in a few hundred additional tourists from the destination.
Aside from the regular twice-a-week schedule, Shanghai Airlines is adding three extra flights starting on Jan. 18 through Feb. 9.
With seat capacity of 228, the additional influx will bring improvements to the arrival figures from China.
“These flights will bring us significant economic impact,” Camacho said, adding that CNMI must take advantage of the upcoming celebrations of various destinations to enhance the island’s tourism industry.
“In this difficult times, we need to work together for our tourism industry,” Camacho said, emphasizing the “after-effect” on the island’s restaurants and shopping places.
On Monday, Chinese tourists are expected to celebrate the Lunar New Year in various hotels.
According to Chinese Association of Saipan director Rose Chan-Matsuda, the traditional Chinese lion dance will be performed throughout the day at several business centers located in different villages to drive away evil spirits and to attract good fortune.
“Through the lion dance, the Chinese Association of Saipan hopes to bring good luck and better economy to the island,” she said in a statement yesterday.
China is one of the two important CNMI markets that may be greatly affected by the federalization law, which will require tourists from the destination to secure U.S. visas prior to entering the CNMI.
This after the federal law excluded China and Russia in the CNMI-Guam Visa Waiver Program scheduled for enforcement on June 1.
