Tourism in
The MarianasMANAGING DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER A. CONCEPCION
MARIANAS VISITORS AUTHORITY
AUGUST 2, 2017
Our Board of Directors
Marian Aldan-Pierce (appointed)
Chairperson
DFS Saipan
Vincent M. Calvo (appointed,
Rota)Vice Chairman
Nick Nishikawa (elected)Secretary
Hyatt Regency Saipan
Gloria Cavanagh (elected)Treasurer
Mariana Resort & Spa
Emma Villagomez (appointed)Member
DFS Saipan
Jerry Tan (elected)
Member
Tan Holdings Corp.
Chris Nelson (elected)Member
Marianas Trekking
Kwang Joong (KJ) Kim
(appointed)Member
Tan Holdings Corp.
Juan O. Barcinas (appointed,
Tinian)Member
Our Management Team
Primary duty is to promote tourism, including organizing and
conducting programs, advertising, and publicizing The Marianas and its attractions to the traveling public
ExecutiveChristopher A. Concepcion
Managing Director
Judy C. TorresDeputy Managing Director
Community Projects/MembershipMartin Duenas
MarketingBruce Bateman
Destination Enhancement
Tatiana Babauta
AccountingJoanna Paraiso
Human ResourcesCarol Chargualaf
ResearchThelma Boyer
Tour Guide CertificationKuen-Hee Han
ProcurementDavid Muna
TinianVida Borja
RotaSandra Atalig
MVA FY2017 EXPENSE DISTRIBUTION
Promotions66%
Personnel10%
Other expenses6%
Destination Enhancement8.1%
DOF Enforcement2.5%
Rota & Tinian2%
Support to gov't agencies 4% Building Fund
1.4%
CNMI Visitor Arrivals
Peaked at 727,000
visitors in 1997
FY 2016 – 501,489
total visitor arrivals
FY 2017 YTD - 33%
higher compared
to FY 2016 (Oct.-
June)
FY 2017- projected
577,735 total visitor
arrivals
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20162017(p)
TOTAL 424 488 536 584 654 722 727 526 492 526 498 425 458 532 530 444 395 397 376 368 338 389 434 444 480 501 578
VARIANCE -90% 15% 10% 9% 12% 10% 1% -28% -7% 7% -5% -15% 8% 16% 0% -16% -11% 0% -5% -2% -8% 15% 11% 2% 8% 5% 15%
-30%
-25%
-20%
-15%
-10%
-5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
CNMI Visitor ArrivalsFY 1991 to FY 2017 Projected
(in thousands)
TOTAL VARIANCE Poly. (TOTAL)
CNMI Visitor Arrivals
51%35%
8%
4% 2%
MARKET SHARE
FY 2017 YTD
Korea
China
Japan
Guam/US
All Others
CNMI Visitor Arrivals
Source Market FY17 YTD
Korea 246,501
China 165,656
Japan 39,723
Guam/US 18,636
All Others 10,893
TOTAL 481,689
Marketing-Japan
New marketing representative office, Access Inc.
Reviving a tired image
“The Marianas” brand introduced
“Marianas 30 Treasures”
3-day Holiday in the Marianas
More direct consumer promotions
“Marianas-chan” (Marianas child)
Airline negotiations
“The Marianas” brand
Logos downloadable at
www.mymarianas.com
Social media hashtag: #MyMarianas or
#TheMarianas
Marketing-Korea
“Paradise for Everyone”
campaign launch
Marianas Ambassador
celebrity appointments
Product placement on
major TV programs
Home shopping program
MICE Incentive Program
Co-op promotions with
airlines, brand name
companies, and other
partners
Marketing-China, Hong Kong
Guangzhou International
Travel Fair, Hong Kong
International Travel Expo
and others
HK Express and other
airline Launch Activities
Media FAM tours
Marketing-Russia, Taiwan
PR and photo distribution to web
portals
Consumer contests:
Video
photo
“Marianas Intern” Contest
FAM Tours
MVA Elected to Board of Discover
America Committee-Taiwan
Media Sales Calls
Awards
China National Tourism Administration
2016 Top 5 of “Top 100 Most Desirable Destinations in the World”
National Tourism Award, China
2016 Destination with the Most
Potential
International Tourism Destination Summit,
Beijing
2017 Top 5 Overseas Destination-
Option Tours
China Travel & Meetings Industry Awards
Best Island Destination
Awards
Marine Diving Fair, Japan
Teteto Beach, 2nd place
Reader’s Choice Best Beach
Managaha, 5th place Reader’s
Choice Best Beach
Saipan, Tinian, and Rota; 4th
place Reader’s Choice Best
Diving Area, Overseas.
Destination Enhancement-Saipan
Architecture, Engineering and
Landscaping Design for Paseo De
Marianas Improvements
Landscaping Services on
Garapan Beach Road & Coral
Tree Avenue
Lifeguard, Security, Maintenance,
and Cleaning services
Marpi Restroom Renovation
Trash Collection in Garapan
Forbidden Island Lookout
And more…
Destination Enhancement-TINIAN
Carolinas Heights Viewing
Deck
Restroom Facilities Renovation
Suicide Cliff Okinawa Prayer
Site renovation
Safety bollards
And more…
Destination Enhancement-ROTA Japanese Sugar Mill train restoration
Tweksberry Beach facilities
renovations
Song Song Lookout railing repair
Swimming Hole facilities repair and
repainting
I’Chenchon Bird Sanctuary facilities
repair and repainting
Mt. Sabana facilities repair and
repainting
Project 360
And more…
Destination Enhancement
Flower Islands Project
Aims to rejuvenate islands with trees
and colorful flowers incorporated into
our professional landscape architecture
Internationally renowned landscape
architect Junichi Inada
Meetings begun to share the vision of
the project
Begins with conceptual master plan for
Saipan, Tinian and Rota; a schematic
plan for 3 airports and Banzai Cliff
Destination Enhancement
Beautify My Marianas
10 Tons of Garbage
collected Oct-May
Littering and illegal dumping
244 groups
89 new litter-control or
apprehending officers
deputized as of July 2017
Community Projects-New Event
Community Projects-KONQER SAIPAN•Sept. 9, 2017
•Governor Inos Peace Park
•Obstacle course challenge
Community Projects-New Event
Marianas Beer & BBQ Festival
Nov. 4, 2017
Garapan Fishing Base
Highlighting Marianas brews
Community Projects
MVA Signature Events
Tinian Hot Pepper Festival
IRONMAN 70.3 Saipan
XTERRA Saipan
Saipan Marathon
Tourism Month
Taste of the Marianas International Food
Festival & Beer Garden
International Festival of Cultures
Hell of the Marianas
Rota Blue Triathlon
Christmas in the Marianas
Other Events MVA Supports
Flame Tree Arts Festival
Saipan International Fishing
Tournament
Tournament of Champions
Pika Bike Race
San Jose, Tinian Fiesta
Tour de Tinian
San Francisco de Borja Fiesta
Rota Coconut Festival, Ayuyu
Festival
Katori/Autumn Festival
And more…
Tour Guide Certification Program
To improve quality of information, safety, and
experience for visitors and reinforce existing
regulations
Proposed regulations published in CNMI Register on
July 28 for 30-day comment period
Will require 20 hours of instruction
Curriculum developed by the MVA to be taught by
Northern Marianas College
To begin October 2017
Tourism Feasibility & Sustainability
Study Immediate Action Plan
Readjust Target Growth Levels
Shorten Airport Arrival Waiting Time
Renovate Existing Properties
Longer Term Plan
Target Levels for Sustainable Growth
High Quality New Developments
Others
Overall
Growth
2016 (Base
Year)
530,525
2017 569,762
2018 611,902
2019 657,157
2020 705,760
2021 757,958
2022 785,987
2023 815,052
2024 845,193
2025 876,448
Si Yu’us ma’ase, olomwaay, and
thank you.