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Saipan-da to give gifts on Christmas Day
Saipan-da backpacks will be presented in person by Saipan-da to qualified children arriving on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2016. (Contributed Photo)
Just like Santa and his helpers, Saipan-da will be on duty Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year.
As part of its annual Happy Children in Paradise campaign and promotions for the holiday season, the Marianas Visitors Authority will again spread holiday cheer by giving away Saipan-da backpacks to visiting children arriving at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport.
All passengers arriving on Dec. 24 and 25, 2016, will be greeted by Saipan-da and two Chamorritas in island attire. Children ages 12 and younger will receive backpacks of the character.
“Just like Santa, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for Saipan-da,” said MVA marketing manager Bruce Bateman. “This year’s backpack is even more loveable than ever, due to the 2016 design that makes it seem like a stuffed animal. And like Santa, we find that people of all ages enjoy Saipan-da, probably because he is also big, jolly, huggable, and give gifts!”
MVA previously gave away over 10,000 backpacks during the summer phase of Happy Children in Paradise from July through September 2016. Saipan-da is a well-known, panda-like character well-received by children from all the NMI’s source markets and designed to keep the destination name in front of potential visitors from Asian countries.(MVA)
