E-Land’s target: High-end tourists

SEOUL, South Korea—High quality tourism—not mass tourism—is the goal of the Korean conglomerate that will soon be opening the Kensington Hotel Saipan in Marpi.

According to E-Land Group’s vice chair Sky Park, they are not only seeking to develop the site but also in trying to bring in a specific class of tourists.

E Land vice chair Sky Park, left, speaks to the Saipan media about their three-stage plan for the island during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea. At right is interpreter Ted Jung, director of sales and marketing. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)

E-Land said they are not only focusing on the Korean market.

“We are not only looking at the Korean market because E-Land has a tour agency and also we have an MOU with the largest travel agency in China,” Park said.

Jung said that Park is working on operating charter flights from China directly to Saipan so that they “can boost the high end level of customers from China.”

E-Land officials also pointed out that the Chinese market has a much bigger population than Korea and there are 30 times more business opportunities in China.

However, to increase the influx of quality tourists to Saipan, E-Land recognizes the need to add more activities that will attract high-end tourists.

“To enhance [and] increase the number of visitors to Saipan, it needs a lot of effort. E-Land wants to try to help the government agency to bring those people. In order to do that, we need to develop and conceptualize a lot of activities in the island for them,” Park said.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio shares the same view.

“It’s very important that we not focus on mass tourism but focus on quality tourism. I think with the additional new properties on the island we can maybe attract more high yield visitors to the island,” Tenorio said.

“I think this is a step in that the direction: to bring in the higher level of tourists in the island,” he added.

Tenorio said he looks forward to the eventual opening of Kensington on Saipan.

“We saw an example of the property [on] Jeju Island and frankly I’m very excited to see that kind of development in the CNMI,” Tenorio said.

Park said she doesn’t worry about the decreasing number of tourists in the CNMI.

“I don’t worry. I never worry. We will bring those customers to the CNMI so I’m more excited than worried,” Park said.

Not interested in casino

When asked, E-Land Group officials said they are not interested in investing in the casino business.

“E-Land has never invested money in that business or casino. …E-Land is looking for new business and to expand the business,” Park said.

The Korean company, which started as a 6.6 square-meter cloth shop named “England” in front of Ewha Woman’s University in 1980, has grown to a conglomerate.

In 2014, its biggest business was in the fashion and retail industry with 150 brands and 17,000 stores. Other businesses are fashion and beverage with 24 brands and 650 stores, hotel and resort with 20 branches, department store and outlet with 50 branches, theme city with two brands, and entertainment with two brands.

E-Land’s main approach is to seek growth through a merger-and-acquisition (M&A) strategy.

With its many businesses not only in Korea but also in China and all over the world, E-Land promises to contribute to the economy where it has businesses.

“E-Land is not a company whose goal is to make money in each destination and then bring the money back to Korea,” Park said. “E-Land group is the company that has the management policy that we must contribute 10 percent of the total profit back to society.”

The group, which owns Coral Ocean Point and Pacific Islands Club Saipan, will be opening Kensington Hotel Saipan in the former Palms Resort in Marpi next year.