Members of the public queue at the Marianas promotion booth during JATA Tourism EXPO 2023 held on Oct. 26-29, 2023, in Osaka, Japan. The Marianas Visitors Authority joined exhibitors from around world at the expo, which attracted nearly 150,000 attendees.
Members of the public learn to make indigenous “mwar” (floral head lei), beads, and coconut leaf weaving at the Marianas promotion booth during JATA Tourism EXPO 2023 on Oct. 26-29, 2023, in Osaka, Japan.
Del Lieto, left, and Fidelia Mafnas demonstrate indigenous “mwar” (floral head lei), bead-making, and coconut leaf weaving at the Marianas promotion booth during JATA Tourism EXPO 2023 held on Oct. 26-29, 2023, in Osaka, Japan.
THE Marianas Visitors Authority joined representatives of other international countries and regions, businesses, and organizations at JATA Tourism EXPO 2023 on Oct. 26-29, 2023, in Osaka, Japan. A Marianas Seminar for travel trade and media representatives was also held in Osaka on Oct. 30.
JATA Tourism EXPO is organized annually by Japan Travel & Tourism Association, Japan Association of Travel Agents and Japan National Tourism Organization. This year’s expo attracted 148,050 attendees.
The expo was held at International Exhibition Center or INTEX Osaka and included national tourism agencies, airlines, hotels, travel agencies, cruise companies, other tourism professionals and the traveling public. MVA joined other exhibitors in providing the latest tourism information to visitors and professional members of the travel trade. The first two days of the expo were focused on business-to-business or B2B appointments and walk-in meetings with travel trade and media partners, while the last two days were open to the public. This year, over 49,000 tourism professionals joined the event on the travel trade days, while an estimated 100,000 consumers joined the final days of the event.
“JATA Tourism EXPO provides the Marianas the means to promote ourselves at one of the largest travel events in the world,” said MVA Deputy Managing Director Judy Torres. “Overall, it was a big success, with nearly 4,500 attendees stopping to actively engage in activities at the Marianas promotional booth.”
MVA shared information and collaterals about the Marianas and its tourism resources. In addition, visitors to the booth participated in indigenous “mwar” (floral head lei), beads-making and coconut leaves weaving, a quiz show, a raffle, and viewing of videos about Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and the Northern Islands.
JATA Tourism EXPO provides opportunities for travel professionals to exchange travel information and conduct effective business meetings, while inspiring consumers to travel.
MVA also had 19 interviews on- and off-line media: Joshi Tabi Press, Tabi Muse, Trip Editor, Golf Digest, LOVE TABI, Marine Diving Web, J-WAVE radio, Asahi Newspaper, Yomiuri Newspaper, Tabippo, Asahi Broadcast Company, Yomiuri TV, ABC Libra, Nouveau, TV Osaka, Traicy, Wing Travel, YouTuber Daki Yamamoto and social influencer SAO.
“Media interviews are a very important part of our participation in JATA Tourism Expo,” said Torres. “For example, in their 10-min program about the expo, ABC TV in Osaka recommended the Marianas for year-end and new travel, making note of our phenomenal golf and diving and citing the Marianas as more reasonably priced than our other U.S. island competitors.”
Joining the Marianas delegation were Senate Vice President Donald Manglona, Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna, Rep. Ralph Yumul, Rep. Marissa Flores and Vice Speaker Joel Camacho.
MVA also hosted a Marianas Seminar on Oct. 30 for in-depth information exchange and partnership-building with travel trade and media representatives in the Osaka and Kansai region. The seminar was attended by representatives of 23 travel agencies and five airlines. Attendees represented the U.S. Consulate General Osaka-Kobe, Asiana Air Lines, Akari Travel, Daybreak Co, Tobu Top Tours Co., TravelPlan International, Travel Gallery, World Express, H.I.S., T.P. Micronesia, Harbor Travel Co., Nice Tour, ARC Three International Co., S World Tour Co., Japan Association of Travel Agents, Happy World Inc., Nippon Travel Agency Co., J World Travel Co., Hankyu Travel, Wing Aviation Press Co, Ohshu Express Limited, TPI, TABIKOBO, United Airlines, and T’way.
United Airlines flies to Saipan three times a week from Tokyo.
The Marianas delegation, led by Marianas Visitors Authority Board Chairwoman Gloria Cavanagh, second left, attends the JATA Tourism EXPO 2023 held on Oct. 26-29, 2023, in Osaka, Japan. From left, MVA Board Member Sachiko Gerrard, Cavanagh, MVA Deputy Managing Director Judy Torres, MVA Japan In-country Manager Takashi lchikura, United Airlines Sales Marketing Manager for Japan & Micronesia Maki Matsui, Senate Floor Leader Corina Magofna, Vice Speaker Joel Camacho, Rep. Ralph Yumul, Rep. Marisa Flores, MVA Board Member Jamika Taijeron, and Senate Vice President Donald Manglona.
The Marianas delegation, led by Marianas Visitors Authority Board Chairwoman Gloria Cavanagh, seated third left, promote the destination to travel agents, airlines, and media at the Marianas Seminar on Oct. 30, 2023, in Osaka, Japan.
