Visa-free Northern Marianas woos Russians at MITT
Touting its visa waiver program for Russians, the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam participated in the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition held on March 21-24, 2012, in Moscow.
The beach resort attractions of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota were touted by the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) to the over 80,000 participants of the event, Russia’s largest travel and tourism fair.
Over 800 potential visitors and travel trade professionals networked with the MVA exhibition booth personnel, and an additional 85 attended the Marianas Seminar for an even more detailed look at the destination.
“Drawn by the natural beauty of our islands, the number of Russian visitors visiting Saipan, Tinian, and Rota continues to grow,” said MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio. “Participating in MITT for the first time this year has allowed us to reaffirm existing partnerships we have developed with media and travel agents and to build new relationships. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from all over Russia this year.”
The Northern Marianas welcomes Russians without visa restrictions, making the island group an attractive tropical destination in the western Pacific. Last fiscal year, over 5,000 Russians discovered- or rediscovered- the Northern Marianas, an increase in arrivals of 18 percent compared to the previous year. [B][I](MVA)[/I][/B]