Busan travel agents tour Saipan and Rota

Despite a tight schedule of only three days, a recent familiarization tour group from Busan, Korea managed to pack in the sights of both Saipan and Rota during their visit last week.

The 16-member entourage was comprised of 12 tour agents and one representative each from newspaper Busan Ilbo, Saipan World Resort Korea office, Asiana Airlines, and the Marianas Visitors Authority Korea office.

MVA managing director Perry Tenorio and industry partners hosted the tour group at a welcoming dinner provided by Pacific Islands Club on their first day in the Northern Mariana Islands.

“This FAM tour was timely, as our MVA Korea office and Asiana Airlines are hosting an instructional road show on March 3-4 in the Young-nam region where these agents are from, specifically in the cities of Daegu and Busan,” said Tenorio. “We anticipate the road show to be attended by about 100 travel agents in Daegu and 150 travel agents in Busan.”

On the day of their arrival (Feb. 19), the Busan fam tour group wasted no time inspecting the accommodation and facilities of Hyatt Regency Saipan, Laolao Bay Golf Resort, Mariana Resort, Aqua Resort Club, and Pacific Islands Club Saipan. The fam tour spent Friday (Feb. 20) on Rota, where they inspected Rota Resort & Country Club. Upon their return to Saipan on Saturday (Feb. 21), they visited Managaha Island, inspected Fiesta Resort & Spa, enjoyed the water park and accommodations of Saipan World Resort, and spent an evening shopping at DFS Galleria in downtown Garapan. Although the tight schedule did not allow the group to visit Tinian before their departure early Sunday (Feb. 22), MVA gave each group member a gift of Tinian donne sali (indigenous hot pepper) paste from Tinian Hot Pepper Festival held earlier this month.

Asiana Airlines sponsored the group’s airfare between Busan and Saipan. The FAM tour was also supported by Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Rota Resort & Country Club and Saipan World Resort, providing accommodation and meals; Mariana Resort and Fiesta Resort & Spa, providing lunch; and DFS Galleria, providing discount shopping cards. Mode Tour and Rota Resort & Country Club also sponsored 50 percent of the tour’s airfare to Rota.

The participating tour companies were Daekun Tour, Reim Tour, Mode Tour, Ok Tour, Sejung Tour, Hana Tour, Lotte Tour, Redcap Tour, Taehwa World Tour, Woori Tour, Tour Busan, and Nasa Tour. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]