Walk for Tourism 5K on May 22

Hui Li, right, slips her way past a historic World War II tank on her way to winning Best Costume-Female at Saipan Marathon 2019 on March 9, 2019, The Marianas Visitors Authority will award prizes for best tourist costume during the Walk for Tourism 5K in Saipan on May 28, 2021. (Contributed Photo)

Marianas Visitors Authority will host the Walk for Tourism 5K on May 22, 2021, beginning at 7am at the Minachom Atdao pavilion in Kilili Beach Park.

The walk, organized under the theme “Power of Travel,” invites participants to dress as a tourist for a chance to win cash. Prizes are $100 for first place, $75 for second place, and $50 for third place.

Registration is free and the first 100 registrants will receive a 2021 Tourism Month T-shirt. Registration will open at 6am.

“We’re looking forward to a festive and fun Walk for Tourism on Saturday, May 22, and we invite everyone to come out dressed as a tourist to participate,” said MVA managing director Priscilla M. Iakopo. “As the tourism industry slowly returns to normal, this walk reminds us that tourism really does power our Marianas economy. We will continue to practice our 3 Ws against COVID at the walk, and we hope to see everyone there!”

To mark Tourism Month, the MVA is also holding a high school student essay contest. The theme “Power of Travel: COVID-19 Impact and Tourism Recovery in The Marianas” invites students to describe how COVID-19 has impacted the Marianas tourism community and share their thoughts how the Marianas should move forward with tourism recovery. Entries must be in Microsoft Word and not more than 600 words.

Entries must be received by 5pm on May 25 and must be submitted to communityprojects@communityprojects@mymarianas.commymarianas.com.

Entries must include the student’s name, grade, school, and email address. Prizes are $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place.

Winners will be contacted via email and announced on the MVA’s official Facebook page: Visit The Marianas on May 31, 2021, at 12pm. The contest is open to all public and private school students all public and private school students grades 9-12. By entering, contestants agree to allow MVA to use their name, image, and essay for promotional purposes, and a parental consent form must be attached. Forms are downloadable under Events at www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas.

The Hafa Adai/Tirow Pledge program will be launched this month, inviting companies, organizations, and individuals to make a deeper commitment and take more responsibility to develop, promote, and support the Hafa Adai/Tirow Spirit in The Marianas.

The public has the chance to win Tourism Month T-shirts and gift certificates by correctly answering tourism-related trivia questions on radio stations Power 99 (97.5 FM) and KSPN2. The public is also invited to join a cleanup organized by the Japan-Saipan Travel Association on May 29 at 9am at the Last Command Post in Marpi.

On Tinian, Tourist for a Day educational field trip will educate youth through firsthand experience of how tourism effects everyone in the islands. The photo competition “My Favorite Island Treasure Glimpses” invites people to take a picture of a Tinian attraction and provide a caption. On Rota, Marianas Youth Welcome All Visitors Enthusiastically (MYWAVE) students join the MVA in cleaning up beaches on the island.

For more information, visit visit www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas or contact MVA Community Projects specialist Jack Aranda at 1.670.664.3200/1 or communityprojectscommunityprojects@mymarianas.com.@mymarianas.com. (PR)