Marianas launches online campaign in China

SHANGHAI, People’s Republic of China—The Marianas Visitors Authority launched an online promotion in mainland China earlier this week through a mini-website at http://www.mymarianas.com.cn/diary/index.html.

The site combines comprehensive tour package information to the Marianas, or the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands, as provided by Century Tours and the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, which are the two major wholesalers of the tour packages in China. It will feature stories about the CNMI along with a short quiz. Visitors who answer the questions correctly will have an opportunity to win a free tour package to the CNMI. One package will be given away every week from Aug. 15 until Sept. 15.

“We developed a mini-website and this promotion to increase the awareness of tourism to the CNMI and help the sales of our two major tour operators in the China market,” said MVA managing director Vicky Benavente. “As we are developing our presence in China, the online promotion will deliver mass awareness to Internet users. Online promotions are considered the most effective means of marketing and by utilizing this marketing medium, the MVA will have a database where direct email providing information about the CNMI is sent to registered online users.”

To increase the interests of netizens, CT and TDHC are sponsoring four packages with total value of US$2,000 to visitors and offering eight discounted packages to the first eight call-ins. The discounted packages were hotly pursued by Chinese tourism lovers. The eight discounted packages offered by CT and TDHC sold out in the first two days (Aug. 15 and 16) of the campaign launch.

In addition, the promotional campaign is now being extended to another major Chinese portal, www.sina.com.cn, and a professional online travel website, www.ctrip.com. Over 300,000 members of Ctrip will receive CNMI promotion information through electronic direct mailing. According to data supplied by the China Interactive IT Company, the total number of netizens who visited the mini-website in the first three days (Aug. 15-17) has exceeded 3,000.

“This could be the first phase of a campaign for us in China. If our Chinese customers welcome the campaign, we will add a next phase,” said Benavente. (PR)