Saipan to host ’04 Marianas Tourism Academy

The Marians Academy Tourism Academy 2004 will be held on Saipan on May 22-24, consisting of travel agents from the cities of Hokaido, Sendai, Niigata, Okayama, Fukuoka, Kansai, Nagoya, and Kanto in Japan.

Participants in this year’s tourism academy will start arriving today and tomorrow in preparation for the seminar and workshop combined with familiarization tours.

The Marianas Tourism Academy programs involve a seminar at which the travel agents will be presented with in-depth information about the islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, its cultures, its people, and the many activities that the islands have to offer visitors.

The workshop feature of the academy program will involve various vendors in the tourism industry and an opportunity to familiarize the travel agents with their products and services.

A critical component of the academy’s goals is to familiarize the agents with the CNMI through a site inspection encompassing areas of interests for visitors such as wedding chapels, marine sports activities, spa experiences, sightseeing, and golf. The travel agents will also have an opportunity to inspect the hotels on Saipan and sample some of the tropical tours on island.

The Marianas Tourism Academy is held yearly to allow key travel agents in various cities in Japan and local vendors to meet in a common place where information can be shared and absorbed, in the interest of promoting the island destinations and the services provided.

MTA 2004 is made possible through the generous support and contribution of MVA members such as Continental Micronesia, Japan Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Pacific Islands Club, Dai Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, Coral Ocean Point, Grand Hotel, World Resort Hotel, Hafa Adai Beach Hotel, Hyatt Regency Saipan, Aqua Resort Hotel, Hotel Nikko, and Marianas Resort Hotel.

Organization such as the Marianas Golf Association, Northern Marianas Dive Operators Association, Japan Saipan Travel Association, and Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands also play a fundamental role in making the MTA 2004 possible.

“The Marianas Tourism Academy, much like the familiarization tours that MVA coordinates, are a great way to sell our destination,” said MVA managing director Jonas Orgen. “The advantage in holding the MTA 2004 here in the CNMI is that we are able to show these travel agents the actual product. They can experience our islands firsthand. This makes it easier for them to sell their packages and tour back in Japan.”