Marianas tourism seminars held in Japan

Specific updates and details about the Northern Marianas as a tourism destination were presented to travel agents and media in three major Japanese cities this month, as part of the Marianas Visitors Authority’s Marianas Seminar series.

A total of 285 major Japanese travel agents attended the seminars, held on April 17-19, 2012, in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. The seminar series is designed to provide Japanese travel agents with the latest information on this beach resort destination, arming them to better sell the destination and develop new tour packages.

“We had more participants than originally planned, which reflects the continuing strong commitment in Japan among our key travel agent partners in promoting the Northern Marianas,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “Most of our Japanese visitors list travel agents as having the greatest influence in their decision to visit the Northern Marianas, so we pay particular attention to keeping their knowledge base current.”

CNMI Lt. Gov. Eloy Inos also participated in the seminars, along with Tenorio, MVA chair Marian Aldan-Pierce and key staff members from MVA’s Japan office.

In addition to a PowerPoint presentation about the Northern Mariana Islands, presentations were made by tourism partners Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Asiana Airlines, and Saipan Air. The seminar and the workshop was also supported by 16 destination stakeholders engaged in Mariana’s tourism.

Following the Tokyo seminar, a meeting of the Japan Marianas Tourism Committee was held, bringing together senior executives from Japan’s leading travel agencies with the key airlines serving the CNMI. Saipan Air made an introductory presentation to this key travel trade group, with Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan and COO Adam Ferguson and Japan Country Manager Arihiro Sato of Saipan Air all presenting to the JMTC group the airline’s plans to launch daily service from Narita to Saipan starting July 1 and to launch daily service from Osaka to Saipan beginning Aug.1 this year.

Eighty-two travel agents and media representatives joined the Marianas Seminar held by the Marianas Visitors Authority in Osaka on April 17, 2012. The seminar provided participants with the latest destination updates.

One hundred thirty-three travel agents and media representatives joined the Marianas Seminar held by the MVA in Tokyo on April 19, 2012. The seminar provided participants with the latest destination updates. [B][I](MVA)[/I][/B]