(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority, through the niche adhoc market subcommittee, has unveiled its active senior market campaign.
This is a pilot project introduced to bring in more longer staying Japanese retirees.
With the arrival of the Japan Airlines charter flight on Sunday, some 80-100 travelers aboard the flight received the “Active Senior Privilege Card.”
The card offers senior citizens an opportunity to avail of special discounts while on Saipan.
This project is tied to a survey that will ask questions about whether the longer staying travel pattern in the CNMI is enjoyable.
The survey also asks if packages sold at higher prices to include Tinian and Rota will bring a higher yield.
The information collected from the survey will help MVA in developing this market as a viable travel segment.
“We need to identify exactly what motivates these travelers while they are on an extended stay in the CNMI,” stated MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio. “It would be beneficial for the industry to know how to deal with this longer staying Japanese market. With higher priced packages in the market that includes Tinian and Rota, we need to know if this will be perceived overpriced for the destination or acceptable.”
MVA, together with volunteer members of the active senior market subcommittee, distributed the privilege cards on the March 4 Japan Airlines charter flight to Saipan.
A banner explaining the details was placed for members to view which also provided information on how to use the card.
Participating vendors have an identification sticker of the card itself on their doors or by their cash registers showing that the privilege card is accepted at their properties or facilities.
“Similar to the signs of major credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and Amex, the privilege card is shown in the similar fashion,” said Tenorio.
The privilege card can be used at golf courses, restaurants, shopping facilities, and spa facilities.
This pilot project will only be used for the duration of the JAL charter flights and will be evaluated after its completion.