$100K to fund tourism promotions in Taiwan

The CNMI government is bent at releasing $100,000 to finance additional promotional activities that would establish Saipan as a prime tour destination among Taiwanese travelers.

Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas disclosed Mandarin Air had specifically asked for government support in increased promotion of the CNMI in Taiwan to justify direct flights between Saipan and Taipei.

Mr. Salas said Mandarin Air executives made this request known to the CNMI government during meeting last month with Northern Marianas officials headed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio.

Mandarin Air said intensified promotions in Taipei is necessary to increase awareness among Taiwanese travelers on the water sports activities and other attractions of Saipan and the rest of the islands in the Northern Marianas.

The governor was apparently convinced on the need to release supplemental funding to finance promotional activities in Taiwan, considering the fact that it is an emerging market and has the potential to be a huge source of revenue for the island’s tourism industry.

At least one in every four Taiwanese travel abroad every year although mainland China has remained the most popular destination in recent years. The island-nation, which is home to over 22 million people, has one of the best standards of living in the world.

Due to the country’s economic stability, its citizens hold a very strong buying power that may spur business activities on the island especially on the purchase of excise or duty-free items.

Mandarin Air uses B737-800 aircraft in all of its charter flights between Taipei and Saipan. The aircraft can accommodate 158 passengers.

Mandarin Air is a subsidiary of China Airlines which was initially focused at servicing domestic routes in Taiwan. The carrier is however expanding to international flights.

The carrier earlier said there may be a need for the CNMI government to intensify its promotional efforts in Taiwan after it disclosed discouraging statistics on tourist arrivals from Taipei in November, the second in a row.

Travelers from Taiwan have slowly made themselves known as the next most important market for the CNMI tourism industry as the Taipei-based carrier reported that it has exceeded the 80 percent load factor target in the first four months of its flight services to the island.

The carrier reported the highest load factor in July that reached 91 percent. Mandarin Air has scheduled to deploy 69 flights until the end of the year.

Last month, Mandarin Air disclosed it is looking at suspending nonstop flights between Taipei and Saipan due to declining passenger haul in the absence of effective promotional programs.

The carrier, however, added that other options are being studied in order to consistently serve the route but added that it needs the assistance of the Marianas Visitors Authority.

It decided to continue servicing the Taipei-Saipan route following a visit by the governor and members of the Air Service Committee of the CNMI Strategic Economic Development Council to Taiwan last month.