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Tourism partners promote Saipan-Osaka route
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Posted on Jan 30 2012
Asiana Airlines and the Marianas Visitors Authority have teamed up with other tourism partners this month on a FAM(iliarization) tour aimed at promoting the Northern Marianas, while trying to keep new flights between Saipan and Osaka, Japan in service beyond the peak travel season.
Arriving Feb. 18, representatives of five travel agencies and one Osaka newspaper took a whirlwind tour of Saipan. The travel agent group left no stone unturned, with scheduled inspections of Hyatt Regency Saipan, Pacific Islands Club Saipan, Saipan Grand Hotel, Saipan World Resort, Hafadai Beach Hotel, Mariana Resort & Spa, Aqua Resort Club, and Fiesta Resort & Spa. Other stops on the itinerary included Managaha, Kingfisher Golf Links, Laolao Bay Golf Resort, DFS Galleria, and the Garapan Street Market.
Meanwhile, the media reps opted for an island tour, a dinner show at Fiesta Resort & Spa, the Las Vegas-style SandCastle cocktail show, kayaking, and snorkeling.
“This type of FAM tour is an important part of getting the word out in the Osaka region that the Northern Marianas is a clean, beautiful, and close destination,” said MVA Marketing Manager Bruce Bateman. “We are extremely fortunate to have the support of Asiana Airlines and other tourism partners in making this tour possible. We expect exposure tours like this will continue to build demand in the region.”
The participating newspaper, Yukan Fuji, is a famous daily evening newspaper distributed to subscribers and sold at newsstands with a distribution of 1.9-milion readers. The paper will feature a cultural excursion article on Saipan in early February at an estimated ad value of $27,000.
The MVA conducted a Marianas Seminar on the destination during the tour, in tandem with presentations by Asiana Airlines and Japan Saipan Travel Association. The MVA also provided ground transportation and handled permitting for the FAM tour. [B][I](MVA)[/I][/B]
