(MVA) — In celebration of May Tourism Month, high school students in Rota donated their time to clean the island on Monday, May 17, in cooperation with the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Nineteen students of the Asian Invasion Club of Dr. Rita S. Inos Jr./Sr. High School conducted cleanups at Teteto Beach and Guata Beach on the southern end of the island.
“This year for Tourism Month activity we have chosen to do a beach cleanup to teach kids the importance of having and living in a clean environment,” said MVA field operations supervisor David Atalig. “The cleanup benefits the tourism industry, our community, and our sea life by preventing all this trash and unwanted items from entering our ocean. It’s a good opportunity to teach the younger generation how a little hard work goes a long way.”
The group collected nearly 125 lbs. of trash and was accompanied by adult organizers Neila Lana and Sabrina Calvo.
Other activities
To mark Tourism Month, the Walk for Tourism 5K will be held on May 22, 2021, at 7 a.m. from Minachom Atdao to Quartermaster Rd. and back. The walk, organized under the theme “Power of Travel,” invites participants to dress as a tourist for a chance to win cash prizes. Prizes are $100 for 1st place, $75 for 2nd place, and $50 for 3rd place. Registration is free, and the first 100 registrants will receive a 2021 Tourism Month t-shirt. Registration will open at 6 a.m.
MVA also invites residents to post their photo of Tinian on Facebook with the hashtags #VisitTheMarianas and #CaptureYourTinianTreasure for a chance to win cash prizes. Winners will be announced on May 31, 2021.
In addition, MVA is holding a high school student essay contest. The theme “Power of Travel: Covid-19 Impact and Tourism Recovery in the Marianas” invites students to describe how Covid-19 has impacted the Marianas tourism community and share their thoughts how the Marianas should move forward with tourism recovery.
Entries must be in Microsoft Word and not more than 600 words. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on May 25, 2021, and must be submitted to communityprojects@mymarianas.com
Entries must include the student’s name, grade, school, and email address. Prizes are: $300 for first place, $200 for second place, and $100 for third place. Winners will be contacted via email and announced on the MVA’s official Facebook page, Visit The Marianas, on May 31, 2021, at 12 p.m. The contest is open to all public and private school students grades 9-12 in the Marianas. By entering, contestants agree to allow MVA to use their name, image, and essay for promotional purposes, and a parental consent form must be attached required.
Forms are downloadable under Events at www .facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas
The public also has the chance to win Tourism Month t-shirts and gift certificates by correctly answering tourism-related trivia questions on radio station Power 99 (97.5 FM) and KSPN2.
In addition, the public invited to join a cleanup organized by the Japan-Saipan Travel Association on May 29 at 9 a.m. at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
The Hafa Adai & Tirow Pledge program will be launched this month, inviting companies, organizations, and individuals to make a deeper commitment and take more responsibility to develop, promote, and support the Hafa Adai/Tirow Spirit in The Marianas.
On Tinian, the Tourist for a Day educational field trip on May 28 will educate youth through firsthand experience of how tourism effects everyone in the islands.
For more information, visit www .facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas or The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com/The-Marinanas-Calendar or contact MVA community projects specialist Jack Aranda at 664-3200/1 or communityprojects@mymarianas.com
Students of the Asian Invasion Club of Dr. Rita S. Inos Jr./Sr. High School clean Guata Beach on Rota on May 17, 2021, in celebration of May Tourism Month.
MVA photo
Students of Dr. Rita S. lnos Jr./Sr. High School clean Guata Beach on Rota on May 17, 2021, in celebration of May Tourism Month.
MVA photo
Nearly 125 lbs. of trash were collected by students of Dr. Rita S. lnos Jr./Sr. High School at Teteto and Guata Beaches on Rota on May 17, 2021. The cleanup was held with the Marianas Visitors Authority in celebration of May Tourism Month.
MVA photo
