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‘Focus Japan promotions to consumers’
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Posted on Jan 29 2001
The Japan Marianas Travel Club has asked the Marianas Visitors Authority to focus its promotional efforts to consumers and not on the Japanese travel agents.
In a recent meeting with the 12-member JMTC in Tokyo, MVA Board Chair Dave M. Sablan and Managing Director Perry Tenorio pledged to continue the agency’s promotional efforts in Japan.
JMTC is composed of presidents of the largest tour operators in Japan.
During the meeting, the MVA officials told JMTC members about plans of hiring an advertising agency that will assist the tourism agency in promoting the Northern Marianas in Japan. In the meantime, Dentsu 10 will finish a three-month contract with MVA until the agency chooses the advertising firm that will be given a long-term contract.
Dentsu 10 created the Saipanda mascot which was used in promoting the Northern Marianas to entice Japanese tourists to visit the islands. MVA will continue to use Saipan in its Happy Children in Paradise Campaign in an effort to stimulate traffic of family market.
The campaign will be extended from April to September 2001 as a result of recommendation of the Japanese tour operators. It is targeting children who are 12 years and under. Each participating hotels will hand over gift bags containing Saipanda items to children.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sablan and Mr. Tenorio also met with executive of Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines where they commended the two carriers for their assistance in promoting the CNMI.
Northwest is set to use a bigger aircraft in its Tokyo-Saipan flight which will increase the seat capacity from 371 to 410.
Mr. Sablan has also asked Northwest to consider flying Shanghai – Japan – Saipan as a result of the recent U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service ruling prohibiting nationals from 24 countries including the People’s Republic of China to transit without visa to any U.S. ports.
“We have not given up on our plan to entice tourists from mainland China. We will find a way to bring those who can afford to come here,” he said. (LFR)
