4 Japanese media groups visit NMI

The Marianas Visitors Authority has attracted familiarization tours by four Japanese media outlets in the last several weeks, visits that will provide free additional publicity for the Northern Mariana Islands in that source market country.

La Scuba, a diving magazine for young females, visited April 14-20, 2015. The magazine covers beach resorts and diving worldwide and will feature six full-color pages on the Northern Marianas in its June 2015issue. The magazine has a circulation of 80,000 and also features shopping, food, and cosmetics.

Asahi Broadcasting Co. visited on April 19-23, 2015, to shoot for the television show “Tabi Salad.” “Tabi” means “travel” in English. This Saturday morning program targets viewers interested in learning English and has the very high market share viewership of 8 percent. The show will feature Saipan in an 18-minute segment on May 9, 2015, as a female reporter explores Hyatt Regency Saipan, Marianas Trekking adventures, Managaha, and other sites.

Sankei Express, a daily newspaper targeting young business people, was on Saipan through April 27, providing coverage of the Saipan Marathon through the participation of its editor. The anticipated articles will also introduce key tourism sites, with special attention to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The newspaper circulates 80,500 daily copies to subscribers and at newsstands in Japan.

Running magazine Courier also sent a two-person editorial team to cover the 10th Saipan Marathon. The magazine covers jogging and marathons in Japan and overseas and will feature the Saipan Marathon with four-page coverage in its June 2015 issue. Courier circulates 120,000 copies to runners of all ages, a good fit for the Northern Marianas’ emphasis on sports tourism.

“As part of our regular activities in Japan and our other source countries, the MVA negotiates for media groups to visit Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and provide coverage,” said MVA marketing manager Bruce Bateman. “In return, the MVA provides assistance with securing film and photography permits and other needs. This win-win marketing strategy results in millions of dollars of unpaid media coverage each year for the Northern Marianas beyond our marketing budget. Much of this media coverage is also published online for anyone interested in learning first-hand about it.”

The MVA operates marketing offices in Japan, Korea, China, Russia and Taiwan. (MVA)