Students at Da’ok Academy receive a presentation about The Marianas tourism industry on Dec. 6, 2024, by Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority at the school in Koblerville, Saipan.
Fourth graders at Garapan Elementary School receive a presentation about The Marianas tourism industry on Dec. 4, 2024, by Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority at the school in Garapan, Saipan.
(MVA) — The Marianas Tourism Education Council and the Marianas Visitors Authority visited three more schools in the last week, encouraging youth to appreciate the value of keeping The Marianas a peaceful community and travel destination.
“Planting Peace – Manånånum Pås- Ffóttol llol Tipiyeew” is the theme of this year’s outreach to students, a message shared with students at Garapan Elementary, Da’ok Academy, and the “Peacebuilders” of WSR Elementary.
“It’s a wonderful experience for the kids to know and understand where they come from and why people come to visit here,” said Jonathan Sanchez, a 4th grade teacher at W.S.R. Elementary.
Students had the opportunity to learn about the Marianas tourism industry, what types of people visit the islands, why travelers choose The Marianas, what the role of MVA is, and how students can support tourism.
The annual school outreach aims to engage 4th graders, 7th graders, and 10th graders on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota with current information and activities highlighting The Marianas’ primary economic driver.
“I really enjoyed it. I got to learn a little bit about our tourism – how it helps our economy and how it brings people together and brings peace,” said Owen Quitugua of Da’ok Academy. “I would really like to put in more ideas on tourism, too, because I’m interested in helping.”
In an impromptu demonstration of marketing, Quitugua successfully convinced a majority of the class to choose his Magas brand t-shirt over a competitor’s during the presentation, a hands-on example of how The Marianas must also compete against other travel destinations.
MTEC is a non-profit organization whose mission is three-fold: to foster community understanding and support of the visitor industry; to educate the public, especially school students, about the value, social benefits, and economic contributions made to the community by the visitor industry; and to instill, improve, and promote the “Hafa Adai-Tirow” hospitality spirit throughout the island community. The organization is also preparing for its annual MTEC Tourism Summit with school MY WAVE Clubs in January 2025.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Coordinator Jack Aranda at communityprojects@mymarianas.com or (670) 664-3200/1.
