MVA managing director, Perry Tenorio said golf resorts and events is becoming an important tourist destination for the Korean market.
“Golf is very important to a lot of gold enthusiasts in Korea,” Tenorio said adding that Saipan being just a short flight away from Korea, is, to the eyes of Korean golfers, a wonderful place to play golf.
That is why MVA and its partners, the KUMHO-Asiana Airlines and the Mode Tour want to make last Saturday’s inaugural Friendly Golf Tournament, an annual sports event.
“This is the first event that we have coordinated with our partners and we would like to make this something that every one looks forward every year,” Tenorio said.
The MVA and its partners want to have the Korean sports enthusiasts to experience the warm climate and the beautiful golf courses, and share such good experience with their families and friends.
The tournament, he said has been discussed for the past few months after Korean gold enthusiasts learned about Saipan through MVA promotions.
He has not heard from the visiting golfers directly, but Tenorio said he is sure “they enjoyed the beautiful day.”
Although the number of participants was less than they targeted, the first Friendly Golf Tournament has successful establish a lasting impression and relationship with Korean partners.
Irene Lee also of MVA said they have placed advertisement in the internet and newspapers to invite the Korean amateur golfers.
She agreed with Tenorio that golf is a very important event for the Korean market.
Since the Asiana Airlines and its mother company, KUMHO Group owns a golf course on Saipan, they wanted to partner with MVA to develop the golf market and came up with the idea of holding a golf tournament here.
Lee added that sports journalists also came from Korea to cover the event and feature the golf courses in their publications back home.
