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Three-month MVA campaign lures 13,000 children
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Posted on Dec 09 2004
Over 13,000 children received free goodies and were welcomed to the islands by a life-size “Saipanda” as part of Marianas Visitors Authority’s three-month campaign to promote the CNMI as a summer vacation destination for young tourists.
The Happy Children in Paradise campaign, a summer campaign targeted at families traveling with young children to the Northern Marianas, received 32 percent more participants this summer, as compared with the 9,759 children that came during the same period last year.
MVA data showed that 5,398 of this year’s participants came in July, 5,829 in August, and 1,779 in September.
As part of the campaign, children, upon their arrival at the Saipan International Airport, were greeted by a “Saipanda” mascot. Upon checking in at their respective hotels, children 11 years old and under received limited edition “Saipanda” backpacks.
Also, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the three-month campaign period, a “Saipanda Day” was celebrated with the mascot’s personal appearance at major Saipan hotels.
MVA reported that the Saipanda Day was enjoyed by an average of 15 to 25 kids per hotel per visit during the months of July and August, and approximately 8 to 10 kids during the month of September.
Pacific Islands Club Saipan consistently had the most children present during the scheduled visits, the agency added.
MVA also said it plans to continue the campaign for the sixth consecutive year in 2005, this time with an aim to draw about 15,000 children to the islands during the summer months.
Actions are currently underway to finalize the 2005 campaign.
