(MVA) — In celebration of May Tourism Month, the Marianas Visitors Authority has organized a series of community events to celebrate and support the primary economic driver of the Marianas.
“More than ever during this time of Covid-19, we have seen the importance of tourism to our Marianas economy and the well-being of our community,” said MVA Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo. “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the industry during May Tourism Month as we reflect on all we’ve overcome as a tourism community, express gratitude for where we are today, and plan for the resumption of international tourism soon.”
A proclamation signing ceremony declaring May as Tourism Month was held Tuesday, May 4, at the Office of the Governor.
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 5 p.m. on May 25, 2021, and must be submitted to communityprojects@mymarianas.com
Entries must include the student’s name, grade, school, and email address. Prizes are: $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for 1st place.
Winners will be contacted via email and announced on MVA’s official Facebook page, Visit the Marianas, on May 31, 2021, at 12 p.m.
The contest is open to all public and private school students grades 9-12 in the Marianas. 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.
Consent 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. Taking the pledge means uniting in the preservation and promotion of the Chamorro and Carolinian languages, culture, and traditions. It encourages pledge-takers to explore ways to do this by using the languages, using indigenous images and artwork, being educated on historical sites, and more. The Hafa Adai/Tirow Pledge unites all people of the Marianas in celebrating its unique way of life and sharing it with the world.
The public will also have the chance to win Tourism Month t-shirts and gift cards by correctly answering tourism-related trivia questions on radio station Power 99 (97.5 FM) and KSPN.
On Tinian, the Simply Clean and Green and Mission NOT Impossible cleanup on May 6 invited the public to help beautify tourist sites with MVA.
A Tourist for a Day educational field trip on May 28 will educate youth through firsthand experience of how tourism effects everyone in the islands. This will mainly target 3rd graders who will be given a tour of beaches, cultural and historical sites and learn about the responsibility of MVA in preserving this areas.
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 or MY WAVE students will join MVA in cleaning up beaches on the island.
The Walk for Tourism will be held on the morning of May 22 in Saipan. Registration is free, and the first 100 registrants will receive a Tourism Month t-shirt. Participants are encouraged to wear tourism- and travel-inspired costumes to win prizes. Further details on Tourism Month activities will be announced as confirmed.
The public is invited to join a cleanup organized by the Japan-Saipan Travel Association on May 29 at 10 a.m. at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas or contact MVA community projects specialist Jack Aranda at 664-3200/1 or communityprojects@mymarianas.com
Students of Tinian Elementary School take a tour of the Blowhole and other island tourist sites during Marianas Tourism Month in 2017. Tourism Month will be celebrated in May 2021 with a proclamation signing, student essay contest, Marpi and beach cleanups, walk-a-thon, tourism trivia, photo contest and more organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority.
MVA photo
