WOULD 2002 World Cup lessen or increase tourists on Saipan? This question has bugged the tourism-based businesses in view of the opening of the sports event this weekend in Japan and South Korea.
According to Pacific Micronesia Tours, Inc. General Manager Ikuo Katayama, local businessmen are divided in opinion on this issue.
“One group said it’s a concern because it would mean a decline in tourists, but the other party said it won’t actually have an effect on us here since there are new bookings,” Katayama said in an interview.
He said he is still “watching the movement” of tourists, but he acknowledged that the World Cup may convince some Japanese not to go abroad.
“They’re going to watch it. But some may just watch it on TV or others may go online,” he said.
This trend in modern communications has actually brought some changes in how people go about with their travel arrangements, Katayama said.
He said the travel sector notices that more tourists make “last minute” bookings.
Before, he said, tourists would make arrangement one or two months in advance.
This he said may mean that tourists who would be coming in next month have not made any reservation with travel agencies.
Traditionally, the June-July period is fully booked by May, but it did not happen this year.
“The trend has changed. You see people get information from a lot of sources, the Internet, TV. They get more familiar with overseas destinations and they can decide easily where to go,” he said.
“That’s why image is a major factor when you’re selling a destination,” he added.
As a travel operator, though, he would still prefer to see people making their schedule much ahead of time.
“That’s much better,” he said.
In related news, Takayama said he hopes that the Irish soccer team would succeed in World Cup “to vindicate Saipan.”
The team’s top player, Roy Keane, was sent back to Ireland for his “disruptive influence.” He also complained about Saipan’s “poor training facility.”
“I really hope they win. As far as Saipan is concerned, it did its best to host the team. Keane’s statement was negative and it may reflect on our image. If they win, it would also be good for Saipan being the team’s training center host,” he said.
Katayama is president of Tasi Tours which provided transportation services to the soccer players during their week-long stay on Saipan.
