Christopher Concepcion
THIS year’s U.S. presidential election has taken a turn with President Joe Biden stepping down from the race this month and Vice President Kamala Harris gearing up to accept the Democratic Party nod to face off against former President Donald Trump. An interesting turn of events!
While most of us in the Marianas will not be able to cast a vote in that election, it calls to mind the significance of the right to vote…and even more importantly, the power of a collective vote.
Numerous media outlets, destinations, and other organizations around the globe regularly publish curated lists drawing attention to “the best” destinations and what they have to offer. Some of these more reputable collections include Conde Nast Traveler’s “The 24 Best Places to Go in 2024,” Lonely Planet’s “Best Destinations to Travel in 2024,” or Forbes Travel Guide’s “24 Top Destinations for 2024.” And often, these lists allow public voting to select — or help select — the winners.
Closer to home, Tripadvisor is an excellent example of where your vote matters. According to their website, the ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the volume and quality of customer reviews, among others. Congratulations to those making the top of the list for Saipan Tours as of today: a “Tinian Enola Gay to Hiroshima 2 Day Tour” tour of Saipan and Tinian, as well as “Off-road Buggy Adventure,” “Blue Grotto Snorkeling,” and “Downhill Bike Adventure” by one of MVA’s own members. We invite everyone to review attractions, hotels, places, and restaurants on Tripadvisor, Expedia, Klook, or other platforms to cast your vote for your favorites, and leave “insider” local tips that will help our visitors maximize their visit — like the best month for windsurfing or kiteboarding, for festivals and community events, the best sunrise view, or when to dive the Grotto for the best chance of encountering sleeping turtles, barracudas or sharks!
The potential benefits of participating in “best of” contests related to our islands are numerous: increasing awareness and getting people excited and talking about the Marianas and interacting with us; sharing what we have to offer that makes our destination enticing and unique among our competitors; generating excitement within our own community; and of course, attracting more visitors. Whether reviewing on an online platform, texting in a vote for Sebastian Tajibmai on Marianas Got Talent and who’s now auditioning for America’s Got Talent, or clicking online for our Marianas representative as “People’s Choice” in an international pageant, it all boils down to one result…promoting the Marianas.
Let’s be real. Due to our (relatively) small number of visitors compared to many other destinations, the Marianas is probably not going to make the U.S. News Travel World’s Best Places to Visit for 2025. This year, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo were among the top 10, with popular votes accounting for half of each score (editors inputs were the other 50%). But the Marianas has won other important popular vote contests, such as numerous wins through the years at Marine Diving Fair in Japan as best overseas diving destination, best beach, best snorkeling, best dive guides, and more. That’s great publicity for attracting more divers from this important source market. So, let’s vote when we can to promote the Marianas, and let’s show the world where we are on the map. We recently had a French publication pick up one of the MVA’s press releases on the work of 500 Sails in reviving maritime navigation traditions in the Marianas. Slowly, we are building more international recognition and interest.
And on that note, we encourage everyone to share your opinions in the ongoing 2nd Annual “Best of the Marianas” contest. Organized by Marianas Variety in partnership with MVA, this contest celebrates the Marianas’ finest in numerous categories, including Dining & Drinking, Arts & Entertainment, Services, Businesses, Best of Tinian and Best of Rota. Many of the winners of the first “Best of The Marianas” last year have made the most of their win, proudly publicizing their awards for best barbecue, best bakery, and more at their business locations, community events like the Taste of the Marianas, and via social media. Voting is open at www.mvariety.com/best_of_the_marianas until Aug. 25, 2024. If you think someone has earned it, please support them with a vote, and let’s continue to spread the word and spread the love for our Marianas.
