Pacific Micronesia Tours manager Takashi Nagaoka told the Variety that 16 buses from PMT and Tasi Tours transported the passengers from the port to the Fiesta Resort Hotel & Spa beach where they spent the morning.
“The young businesspersons spent the rest of the afternoon getting ready for last night’s friendship party scheduled at American Memorial Park with the local residents,” Nagaoke said.
This year marks the 37th JC Youth Voyage Tokaigo and the third time for Fuji Maru to come here. The first and second times were in 2006 and 2007.
The Fuji Maru will depart Saipan this afternoon.
Saipan seaport manager Mary Ann Q. Lizama said 589 young businessperson were on board the Fuji Maru, while 200 others flew in early this week from Nagoya.
“Having this big group of businesspersons come to the island is a big boost to the economy, although they will be staying here just for one night,” Lizama said.
This morning, the businesspersons will be out for shopping and sightseeing in Garapan, and tour the northern part of Saipan including the Last Command Post and Banzai Cliff before the ship departs in the afternoon.
The 547-foot Fuji Maru cruise is one of the ships regularly used by Japanese businesses to give their workers incentive cruises mostly to Southeast Asian destinations.
Fuji Maru and its sister ship Nippon Maru are now regularly used for cruises throughout the world including to popular destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Alaska.
