Previous Story
WITH SKYMARK ALLIANCE
MVA seeks to create buzz in Japan
The Marianas Visitors Authority wants to generate “high awareness” in Japan about the launch of Skymark Airlines’ direct flights to Saipan as part of its marketing strategy to revive the Japan market.
MVA Japan general manager Takahashi Ichikura said they are going to make official announcements about the new direct flights to Saipan.
MVA hopes this will create buzz of something new in the Marianas, said Ichikura in his presentation about the Japan market during the MVA’s general membership meeting last week at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Hibiscus Hall.
Skymark Airlines will be the first Japan-based carrier to have air services in the CNMI since 2005. It has leased an office space at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport as it prepares to launch flights between Japan and Saipan in early part of 2019.
Ichikura said their marketing plan for fiscal year 2019 has two phases—interim period for the first and second quarters, and a campaign period for the third and fourth quarters.
During the interim period, they plan to promote two destinations in one trip, such as going to beach in the CNMI and shopping in Seoul while in transit.
Ichikura said their proposed campaign is to take off with sense of expectation/excitement. He said the Skymark’s colors will be used in the logo.
In spring next year, Ichikura said, hip-hop group Doberman Infinity, which produced the official image song for MVA, will be coming to Saipan to create a promotional video.
He also discussed, among other things, how they came up with destination rebranding of the CNMI in the past year.
As for Super Typhoon Yutu relief initiative, Ichikura said they will distribute to media partners the status of the CNMI government’s recovery efforts.
He said they developed the #Marianas STRONG relief logo and opened a #Marianas STRONG fundraising account. He said #Marianas STRONG donation boxes will also be placed on Saipan.
