(MVA) — In celebration of May Tourism Month, the Marianas Visitors Authority in collaboration with the Office of the Governor, will hold the CNMI Tourism Month Fun Run on May 14, 2022 on Saipan.
The fun run course will start at Garapan Fishing Base and follow Saipan Beach Rd. Pathway to the Japanese tank at Quartermaster Rd. intersection and back. The first wave of runners will start at 6:30 a.m. and the second wave at 7 a.m. Registration is $10, and participants may register in person at the MVA office in San Jose or the Office of the Governor on Capital Hill. Registration will also be available at 6 a.m. on run day at the starting line. Race proceeds will benefit the Diabetes Coalition and Run Saipan. Online registration will open shortly at https://raceroster.com/events/2022/60364/fit-to-lead-5k-cnmi-tourism-month-fun-run
The event will give a “CNMI Tourism Month/Fit to Lead” t-shirt to the first 300 participants. All participants will also receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes.
“We’re looking forward to a great fun run on May 14 and invite the community to come out and show their support for tourism, because tourism is everybody’s business,” said MVA Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo. “We’re also excited to partner with the Office of the Governor this year in promoting the Fit-To-Lead Health and Wellness Campaign.”
Participants are encouraged to wear tourist costumes during the 5K to win cash prizes.
Tourism Month kicked off with proclamation signing ceremony on Thursday, April 28, at 10 a.m. at the Office of the Governor on Capital Hill.
MVA is also holding a student logo contest. Students in grades 9-12 are asked to incorporate the slogans “Marianas Tourism Month” and “Tourism is Everybody’s Business” in their vision of the future of travel. Prizes are: $500 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place. Entries must be submitted with a Parental Consent Form by 5 p.m. on May 23, 2022.
Rules and parental release forms are downloadable under Featured Events at www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas or at www.mymarianas.com
The public will also have the chance to win Tourism Month t-shirts and gift cards by correctly answering tourism-related trivia questions on radio stations Power 99 (97.5 FM) and KCNM-KZMI (103.9 FM) and cable station KSPN2.
The general public is invited to join the Tourism Month Cleanup on Saturday, May 28, 2022, in Marpi. Participants will meet at 8 a.m. at the Last Command Post in Marpi.
On Rota, students of Sinapalo Elementary School will help beautify the island with a beach cleanup. Students will also be awarded cash prizes for painting tourist attractions on Rota throughout the month. Students of Dr. Rita Inos Jr./Sr. High School will receive a guided tour of historic sites.
Another sit cleanup will be held on Tinian. Also on Tinian, island youth, tour guides, and industry frontline workers will be a Tourist for a Day on May 25 and 27, receiving a guided tour of the island to learn more about Tinian’s tourist attractions. A photo contest highlighting the island’s natural, historical and cultural attractions will also be held.
Further details on Tourism Month activities will be announced as confirmed.
For more information, visit www.mymarianas.com, www.facebook.com/VisitTheMarianas or contact MVA community projects specialist Jack Aranda at (670) 664-3200/1 or communityprojects@mymarianas.com
Governor Ralph DLG Torres is joined by representatives of the Marianas Visitors Authority, lawmakers, other officials and tourism industry stakeholders on April 28, 2022, at the Office of the Governor in Saipan following the proclamation of May as CNMI Tourism Month.
