Jill LaCroix, owner, On The Edge Travel, said, “The chance to live and study in the [Northern] Mariana Islands will provide students with the ultimate learning experience and perfect opportunity to get out and explore the world.”
LaCroix, whose company works with university directors around the world, plans educational travel programs overseas with them to explore industries and cultures and develop emerging markets.
She said the islands are in an advantageous position to tap the Asian market.
She said, the Northern Mariana Islands’ proximity to Asia “allows students to be here in a short span of time.”
Besides being a tropical destination, the islands, LaCroix pointed out, are a safe destination for these prospective students.
During Tuesday’s presentation at the 2011 Economic Restoration Summit, she cited statistics proving that despite the economic downturn, there was an increase in international students worldwide.
She said, “The highest percentage of students are coming from China — which is interesting.”
She also mentioned another “interesting” statistic — Asian women are staying single longer — and this could be an important market.
More and more Asian women are looking to learn language as they look for ways to get out of their respective countries to explore more options for themselves, she said.
For LaCroix, this is a “fantastic” opportunity.
In going forward with developing the educational tourism sector, LaCroix said the CNMI should look into its strengths and weaknesses: evaluate resources,
provide what is marketed or offered, and assist students with the next logical step.
“If you have students who are in high school, help them get into local colleges. From there, if they want to go to the mainland United States, help them with the next logical step to help you retain them for the time being,” LaCroix said.
She also suggested for the CNMI to offer immersion classes — to work with private schools in Korea and Japan.
Given that Saipan is a family-oriented destination, “You can do [immersion] classes and [offer] vacation time for families,” she said.
The CNMI can also offer cultural exploration programs that LaCroix believes do not only give students learning but also offer cultural experience.
She also identified another program that the islands can venture into — a program for retirees who want to learn language.
She said the CNMI can offer an authentic, interactive learning experience for the retirees.
Meanwhile, she highlighted the need to promote the CNMI education programs in newspapers and magazines. She also said that conventional ways of promotions still work like ads in subways.
She also stressed the importance of collateral materials. “If you are promoting, you have to make sure you have attractive collateral materials showing what you can offer. There is so much you can do.”
More than the programs, LaCroix highlighted the need to be truthful to what the schools in the CNMI advertise and help make sure that there are available infrastructures that meet the standards of the coming students.
“Make them confident in their decision to come here,” she said.
