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China website ranks Saipan as most popular in Pacific
Saipan has been ranked as the most popular Pacific island destination among Chinese tourists, according the Mafengwo, one of China’s largest online websites that enables users to share travel experiences.
In its 2018 Memo for South Pacific Island Destinations, Mafengwo ranked Saipan at the top of list, almost twice as popular as the runner-up, Palau. The list is based on the sales of various island tourism products and users’ behavior such as searches, travel notes, and question-and-answer.
“Mafengwo is one of the biggest online platforms for Free and Independent Travelers—or FITs—in China, so they have their finger on the pulse of what Chinese tourists are looking for and where they are travelling to,” said Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion. “The Chinese traveler is a very important component of our tourism industry in the Marianas, and it’s good to see demand for our destination is still strong in China, as evidenced by the quick rebound of the market after Super Typhoon Yutu. We will continue to focus our efforts on building that demand, including through destination improvements that will continue to make Saipan, Tinian, and Rota an ideal place to visit. This includes upgrading our tourist sites, improving our tourism infrastructure such as hotels and airports, protecting our natural environment, and creating a sense of place for all our visitors.”
The study cited Grotto and Managaha as two famous sites on Saipan, especially for divers. Rounding out the top five destinations were Palau, Fiji, Tahiti, and Guam.
The tourism research center of Mafengwo found South Pacific Islands to be “beautiful and having unique tropical customs.” In 2018, in addition to the well-known New Zealand and Australia, the tourism interest in South Pacific islands also grew rapidly in China. China will host the China and Pacific Tourism Year 2019. (MVA)
