(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority participated in the 27th Wedding Exhibition in Korea held January 18-22, 2007.
Weddex is the largest wedding related exhibition in South Korea, with the longest history and receives more visitors than any other wedding exhibition. It has been held 26 times with great success.
Weddex was established in 1992 and was originally an annual exhibition but with tremendous support from both participating companies and consumers, the exhibition became bi-annual beginning in 1996.
MVA took a different approach at this year’s Weddex. MVA decided to promote to the Korean honeymoon market by supporting 5 major travel agents participating in Weddex.
The five agents displayed large and attractive images of the Northern Marianas in their booths and positioned their travel counselors to heavily persuade couples to purchase CNMI honeymoon packages over other destinations. Some of these travel counselors specialize in selling only the CNMI.
MVA will be assessing the success of this new strategy and scrutinizing the presentation and appeal of the CNMI’s images that were put on display at the travel agents’ booths.
With this new approach, MVA is expecting about 500 couples booked for the CNMI directly through our travel partners at Weddex and other moderately sized wedding expos from January through February.
During the visit to Korea, MVA met with travel trade partners such as Korean travel trade media, travel agents, land operators and Asiana Airlines to discuss and exchange concerns that are currently affecting the Korean market as well as concerns that will affect the market in the near future.
MVA was well received and was met with enthusiasm and appreciation from these partners, for taking time to meet with them and discuss opportunities and concerns for the destination.
MVA’s relationship with these partners is crucial for the continued support of the Marianas.
At the meetings, MVA emphasized that the number of Korean visitors to the CNMI increased 24 percent in 2006 and plans to set a higher standard for 2007, as well as focus on aggressive consumer, trade and media promotions to attract more Korean visitors.
The parties also discussed new and unique ways to develop the tourism industry in the Northern Marianas. Some of the partners the delegation met with included Hana tour, Mode tour and Tourmall.