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MVA to highlight sports tourism in 2005
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Posted on Oct 08 2004
The Marianas Visitors Authority is gearing up for a busy year in 2005, with numerous major events lined up to further enhance the Northern Mariana Islands as a preferred sports and leisure travel destination in the Pacific.
MVA managing director Vicky Benavente said the CNMI will be investing some $500,000 in FY 2005 to stage major events such as the Xterra Saipan Championship and the Taste of the Marianas Food Festival.
“As part of the event line up for the year, the MVA will come up with a media plan that will include coverage of each event to be exposed in our major markets such as Japan, Korea, and China,” Benavente said.
She added that the advertisement value that the CNMI will receive as a result of MVA’s continued effort in obtaining more sports magazine writers and reporters to cover these events, will total an estimated publicity exposure value worth millions of dollars.
“[The] media exposure [we will get] is worth every dollar invested from the CNMI,” Benavente said.
Major events scheduled to take place in 2005 on Saipan include the 10K Marathon in January; Marianas Open Windsurfing in February; Flame Tree Arts Festival, Tagaman Triathlon, XTERRA Saipan, and Beach Aerobics in April; Taste of the Marianas in May; Escape from Managaha in June; and the Saipan International Fishing Tournament in August.
Tinian will host the Turquoise Blue Triathlon and Reef Swim in February, and the Fiesta events in May.
All roads will lead to Rota for the San Francisco De Borja Fiesta in October and Rota Blue Triathlon in November.
Besides the highlighted events, the MVA will also be involved in a number of small-scale events through direct coordination or through sponsorship.
“These events are planned throughout the year that are designed to cater more at the community level, such as the CNMI Tourism Month, bowling tournaments, fun runs, Christmas in the Marianas, golf tournaments, kid’s fishing derby, beach volleyball and many more,” Benavente said. “Product development plays an important role in marketing a destination as well as enhancing the relationship between the community and international visitors from off island.” (Agnes E. Donato)
