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MVA closes down Manila office
The Marianas Visitors Authority is closing down its representative office in Manila in order to support other markets that have regular flights to and from Saipan.
MVA, which is represented by contractor Aviareps Corp. in South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, and the Philippines, is closing down its Manila office due to Philippine Airlines’ decision to switch from a year-round service to a seasonal service early this year.
“[MVA] believes our resources are better served at other markets with a direct service. We would still be reserving some funding from this budget to still support the seasonal flights from Manila,” said MVA managing director Chris Concepcion.
The Manila office, which is included in the $250,000 budget set aside annually for the Philippines, still has less than $100,000 left for the remainder of fiscal year 2018. Concepcion said the remaining balance would be returned to MVA.
When asked about possibly reopening the Manila office in the future if PAL offers regular flights again, Concepcion replied, “We could easily do that.”
“If there is a need in the future for us to reopen the office again, we would absolutely consider it,” he added.
Concepcion added that the networks associated with the Philippines have already been established, making reopening the Manila office easy “to pick up.
The MVA Manila office was reopened in early 2016 when PAL was still offering regular flights between Saipan and Manila.
