Certified tour guides hoped to strengthen Japanese tourism

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion, Marianas Visitors Authority Tour Guide Certification manager Kuen-Hee Han and Pacific Micronesia Tours Inc. president Masato Tezuka surround the graduates of the recent Marianas Guide Program, a 20-hour course held at the Northern Marianas College
especially made for tourist guides in the CNMI. (Contributed Photo)

One of the leading tour operators on island, Pacific Micronesia Tours Inc., had several of its tour guides complete the Marianas Guide Program and were certified last Tuesday at the Marianas Visitors Authority office in San Jose.

It is hoped that, since Pacific Micronesia Tours has about 95 percent Japanese client tourists, having many of their guides certified would boost Japanese tourism in the CNMI.

According to MVA managing director Chris Concepcion, Pacific Micronesia Tours is the first Japanese tourist company to have all of its tour guides undergo the Marianas Guide Program.

“The courses that they took are very educational, where they are immersed in the history and culture of the CNMI and the do’s and don’ts while taking tourists around,” he said. “Getting certified makes them better guides, which makes the experience more memorable to the tourists when they come.”

Concepcion said that this program would hopefully encourage more Japanese tourists to choose the CNMI as their destination.

The Marianas Guide Program is a collaboration between MVA and Northern Marianas College.

In an earlier interview, NMC president Dr. Carmen Fernandez said the program lays a solid foundation to help ensure that tour guides are equipped with consistent information.

“The information that is taught is not only about the CNMI’s history, culture, and environment but also about local rules and regulations that are relevant to tour activities,” she added.

Tour guide Masaru Sunaga said he learned a lot more about the CNMI from the program.

“CNMI’s history is very rich and learning about it gave me knowledge that I could share to the tourists that will visit us. The other big part of the program is learning about taking care of nature and this was truly emphasized in the classes,” he added.

Another tour guide, Mari Sugiyma Bernardo, said she learned about the past and present relationship between Japan and the CNMI.

“If I were asked by tourists what place I will recommend for them, I would say Marpi and Sugar King Park in Chinatown because there is a lot of Japanese history there,” she added.

Taro Kubo said he has lived in the CNMI for 10 years but going through the program made his perspective about the CNMI change.

“I learned about the CNMI culture that is unique like the legend of Taga. I only knew about the history of the CNMI and Japan but now, even the CNMI’s history with Germany and Spain is clear to me,” he added.

Pacific Micronesia Tours manager Masato Tezuka is pleased that the program is very organized. “The program has a very good system and we are very happy that MVA has this. This program is very helpful to our tour guides and Japanese tourists and we intend to continue this as long as possible,” he said.

Other tour guides that was certified were Keiko Ojima, Kaori Takahashi, Kaori Osanai, Leopold Rodriguez Jr., Sachiyo Hoshiba George, and Palokoa Sitchiro Mongkeya.