(MVA) — In celebration of May Tourism Month, the Marianas Visitors Authority is holding a high school student essay contest, awarding cash prizes for the top entries.
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.
“Young people are the future of the Marianas and the future of our tourism economy,” said MVA Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo. “We’d love to hear their thoughts on the industry, especially their understanding of how Covid-19 has impacted it and what they think are the actions that would best make the Marianas an attractive and desirable place to visit as international travel resumes.”
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 [email protected] with a parent consent form (downloadable at www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas). Entries must include the student’s name, grade, school, and email address. Prizes are: $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place.
Winners will be contacted via email and announced on 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.
Other activities for Tourism Month include the launch of the Hafa Adai/Tirow Pledge program, tourism-related trivia questions on Power 99 (97.9 FM) and KSPN, a Walk for Tourism on May 22, and a cleanup lead by the Japan-Saipan Travel Association on May 29 in Marpi. Activities on Tinian also include a Tourist for a Day educational field trip, a photo competition, and the Simply Clean and Green cleanup at tourist sites. On Rota, Marianas Youth Welcome All Visitors Enthusiastically or MY WAVE students will join MVA in cleaning up beaches on the island.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas or contact MVA community projects specialist Jack Aranda at 664-3200/1 or [email protected]
Priscilla M. Iakopo
