NMI officials join Skymark in Japan to announce flights

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios join officials from Skymark Airlines Inc., Marianas Visitors Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan), and tourism industry stakeholders in Tokyo to announce the launch of Skymark Airlines’ nonstop daily regular flights from Narita to Saipan beginning on Nov. 29. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios joined officials from the Marianas Visitors Authority, Commonwealth Ports Authority, Rep. Joseph Lee Pan Guerrero (R-Saipan), and tourism industry stakeholders in Tokyo this week to announce the launch of Skymark Airlines Inc.’s nonstop daily regular scheduled flights from Tokyo-Narita to Saipan beginning on Nov. 29.

This past Monday, Torres led the CNMI delegation in a meeting with Japanese lawmaker Yasukazu Hamada at the Japan Diet Members Office Building. Hamada was instrumental in helping to establish the CNMI’s relationship with Skymark Airlines Inc.

Torres reiterated the Commonwealth’s appreciation for the Hamada’s support and efforts to bring back nonstop daily flights between Japan and the CNMI.

“It’s been sometime since our first meeting with Congressman Hamada and we are extremely grateful that through his support. We are now just days away from seeing the return of daily direct flights from Tokyo to Saipan,” said Torres. “This is a significant step toward reinvigorating our partnership with Japan, particularly with regards to our visitor industry.”

Palacios is optimistic that the return of direct flights from Japan will spur additional economic activity in the CNMI.

“This is an important milestone in our history and in our efforts to attract Japanese investors and tourists back to the Marianas,” added Palacios. “Back in the day when there were direct flights from Japan, we saw many Japanese investments [on] our islands and Japan was at the top of our visitor arrivals.”

Hamada expressed his continued support and noted that he has already begun inviting Japanese investors to take advantage of the upcoming direct flights so that they can explore potential investments in the CNMI.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Torres and Palacios joined a well-attended travel industry reception hosted by MVA in honor of Skymark Airlines’ flight launch announcement.

In his remarks before a standing room packed with Japanese media and industry partners, Torres thanked Skymark Airlines president Masahiko Ichie and the Skymark team for their partnership. He also extended his appreciation to U.S. Department of Commerce deputy assistant secretary for Travel and Tourism Phil Lovas for attending the event and speaking in support of the new flight service.

“Japanese investors and visitors helped build the Marianas tourism industry over 40 years ago. Today, Japanese tourism is our No. 1 priority in the Marianas,” said Torres. “As a community, we are all very excited to have Skymark Airlines launch their direct flights on Nov. 29, 2019. Everyone is looking forward to Skymark’s service, and we cannot wait to fully welcome back our Japanese visitors to our beautiful islands.”

He looks forward to working closely with Skymark for many years to come and reiterated his administration’s commitment to prioritize Japan as the CNMI’s leading tourism market and to strengthen the historic ties between the Marianas and Japan.

For his part, Palacios, whose maternal grandfather is Japanese, offered the ceremonial Kanpai toast by emphasizing that Japan and the Marianas are connected by history and culture, and this new partnership with Skymark Airlines provides the opportunity to grow closer and stronger together.

“To everyone here on this beautiful night, from our Skymark partners to our Japanese tourism partners, and to our media partners, on behalf of the people of the Marianas, I offer a toast for friendship, for beautiful harmony, and for success because Skymark’s success is the Marianas’ success,” said Palacios. (PR)