SELLING SAIPAN Teno leads delegation to Japan tourism fair

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday he hopes to meet with various airline officials during his trip to Japan this week as part of the CNMI delegation to the country’s biggest tourism and travel fair.

His main mission, however, is to talk with travel agents in Tokyo to encourage Japanese tourists to visit the Northern Marianas. The market is the largest source of visitors to the island, making up about 80 percent of total arrivals last year.

Dozens of high-ranking local officials and representatives of the tourism industry are attending this week’s event organized by the Japan Association of Travel Agents or JATA. The fair, held once every two years, draws participation of various countries around the world as Japanese have the highest per capita in terms of overseas travels.

Mr. Tenorio, who left yesterday afternoon, said the Marianas Visitors Authority has already set up a booth in the JATA affair to launch their promotional campaign during the week-long event.

MVA will also host a function, inviting key people of the travel industry in Japan, to present the strategic plan of the island to spur local tourism, according to Board Chairman Dave M. Sablan.

“I’ll be visiting some of the travel agents in Japan and perhaps the airline and see whether they can provide us additional direct flights out of Japan to Saipan so that we could bring more tourists,” the governor told reporters in an interview.

He did not say which air carriers he hopes to persuade, although he hailed Japan Airlines for its continued patronage of the CNMI despite the economic meltdown that hit much of East Asia in the last two years.

The crisis had pulled down tourist arrivals here and forced Continental Airlines to scale back its service to Saipan.

“They have provided direct charter flights from other cities in Japan and they are bringing in tourists now,” added Mr. Tenorio.

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente, who also flew to Tokyo yesterday afternoon as part of the delegation, said he would assist the governor in his efforts to promote the island as well as to woo other airlines in servicing the CNMI.

“Being there and being with the governor will help our cause, whether it’s talking with airline people or even the promotional events for the tourism meet,” he said in a separate interview. “That’s what I’m there for and if I can be of any assistance to the governor and the delegation, I would agree to support it.”

Aside from MVA officials and private sector representatives, such as hotels, the CNMI sent lawmakers to JATA to personally lure Japanese tourists.

Those who were scheduled to leave over the weekend included Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, Sen. Juan P. Tenorio and Rep. Bennett Seman.

It was not known how much the government spent for its JATA participation, although initial reports indicated budget of about $20,000. The last event in 1997 cost the Commonwealth more than $200,000 with over 60 delegates.