Tourism agencies in Guam and Saipan prep offers for the summer
The Marianas Visitors Authority anticipates that the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, or the EVS-TAP related flights from Hong Kong will resume on Sept. 21, allowing the Northern Mariana Islands to welcome more visitors from the People’s Republic of China.
The EVS-TAP is a sub-program of the GUAM-CNMI visa waiver program and is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing prescreened nationals of the PRC to travel to the NMI.
According to a July 25 release from MVA, “… processing is proceeding quite rapidly.”
Prior to the pandemic, visitor arrivals from China comprised more than 40% of all visitors to the NMI.
In other NMI tourism news, MVA and Korean travel agency Nol Universe are launching the Saipan Schooling English Camp — an immersive educational travel program for elementary and middle school students. The program will run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 30 with options from one to three-week sessions for children aged five to 15, accompanied by family members.
Classes will be held at Mount Carmel School, and extracurricular activities will include arts, golf, and snorkeling as well as field trips.
The Guam Visitors Bureau is also aiming to increase arrivals from the Korea market, with the launch of "Kids Fly Free," offering complimentary airfare for children under 12 traveling on select night flights to Guam during the peak summer season, from July through August.
GVB launched the "Kids Fly Free" night flight promotion, targeting Korean family travelers. Photo by Skyler Obispo
This two-month initiative targets family travelers utilizing night flights operated by Korean Air, Jin Air, and Jeju Air. Fuel surcharges and taxes will be applied.
In addition, GVB’s Korea Roadshow is due to take place from Sept. 9 to 12 in Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, and Seoul, with participants bussed between the cities.
GVB is calling for the community and the legislature to support airline incentive efforts. “GVB is requesting additional funds totaling $11 [million] to sustain the recently increased airline seat capacity through targeted airline incentives,” the agency said in a July 25 release, citing the funding as a critical part of its recovery efforts after the significant decline in arrivals due to the pandemic, aircraft shortages, and other factors.
Events in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands offer getaways and attractions to interested attendees from neighboring islands.
The Saipan International Fishing Tournament on July 13 saw a record 29 boats from Guam of the 75 boats, according to a July 25 release from MVA. The event also featured an accompanying festival, and was sponsored by MVA, Budweiser, Mobil, Pacifica/Century Insurance and Docomo Pacific.
The next major sporting event in Saipan will be the annual HANMI Charity Classic Golf Tournament on Aug. 9 at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort. mbj
An 8.8 magnitude earthquake off of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 30 triggered tsunami advisories, watches and warnings in Guam and across the Pacific.
DZSP 21 LLC was awarded a $115.95 million “cost-plus-award-fee modification to its previously awarded contract for base operations support services,” according to a July 30 release from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Sea Pac Engineering Inc. of Los Angeles, Calif., was awarded a $36.88 million firm-fixed-price contract for troop housing construction, according to a July 29 release CHamoru Standard Time.
Scholars, community leaders, veterans, and former refugees gathered at the Guam Museum Theater in Hagåtña on July 26, for a public forum marking the 50th anniversary of Operation New Life, a massive U.S. military-led evacuation effort that brought more than 110,000 Vietnamese refugees through Guam in 1975 following the fall of Saigon.
