The Marianas Visitors Authority Makes Its Debut at ADEX Beijing International Marine Culture Week

From September 6 to 9, 2018, ADEX Beijing International Marine Culture Week was officially held at the Poly International Convention and Exhibition Center. The Marianas Visitors Authority represented the Northern Mariana Islands at the event, sharing fascinating diving tourism resources unique to the Northern Mariana Islands with attendees and diving enthusiasts.

A Diving Paradise of Natural Wonders

Located in the heart of the Western Pacific and adjacent to the world’s deepest point—the Mariana Trench—the Northern Mariana Islands benefit from a location far from pollution and at the center of ocean currents, resulting in exceptionally pristine waters that shine with a deep, mysterious blue under the sunlight, like flawless sapphires. In particular, the waters near Rota Island boast underwater visibility exceeding 50 meters, surpassing other Pacific islands. The dreamy blue underwater light, complex and rugged seabed terrain, diverse tropical marine life, and wartime relics rich in history all attract diving enthusiasts from around the globe, establishing the Northern Mariana Islands as one of the world’s top diving destinations.

Mr. Christopher A. Concepcion, Director of the Marianas Visitors Authority, stated, “The number of outbound Chinese tourists is increasing year by year, indicating a promising trend for the tourism industry. Among visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands, Chinese tourists are more willing than those from other countries to try snorkeling or diving activities. We hope to leverage this exhibition to enhance Chinese tourists’ awareness of the travel environment in the Northern Mariana Islands, improve their understanding of diving conditions, and attract more diving enthusiasts to experience the distinctive charm of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, different from traditional Chinese landscapes.”

For this event, the Marianas Visitors Authority invited a distinguished guest—Yorko Summer, a highly popular underwater photography expert in Asia—to share his travel and diving experiences with attendees. Yorko Summer has been recognized by diving magazines as one of the world’s must-know underwater photographers and holds multiple roles including travel writer, photography instructor, and judge for underwater photography competitions. In 2018, he was also invited to serve as the spokesperson for the Marianas Visitors Authority to promote the marine beauty of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. At the event, he not only shared his extensive experiences and feelings from diving trips in Saipan but also promoted the concepts of reducing plastic use and marine conservation, calling on diving enthusiasts to take action and contribute to the protection of marine ecosystems, earning widespread applause.

At this diving exhibition, the Marianas Visitors Authority received strong support from its partners, Century Travel and member cooperative merchant Ocean Plus. Century Travel and Ocean Plus respectively launched customized flight and hotel packages as well as a variety of diving packages, attracting more diving enthusiasts to experience the Northern Mariana Islands.

A Promising Future in the Chinese Market

Since the establishment of the Marianas Visitors Authority’s representative office in China in 2012, the number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting the Northern Mariana Islands has tripled. As of August 2018, although the total number of visitors to the Northern Mariana Islands had declined compared to the same period last year, the number of Chinese tourists remained stable, making China one of the most important source markets for the Northern Mariana Islands. Additionally, according to the “2018 China Online Outbound Tourism Consumption Report (First Half),” Saipan is one of the popular destinations for Chinese tourists’ semi-independent outbound travel.

As the only U.S. territory offering visa-free entry to Chinese citizens, the Northern Mariana Islands have greatly benefited from this policy. With the efforts of various partners, travel options from China to Saipan have become increasingly diverse. In addition to existing direct flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, connecting flights to Saipan have been launched from nearly 20 cities across the country. With more connecting routes available, Chinese tourists can freely plan their outbound itineraries and customize their unique Marianas journeys. This year, the Marianas Visitors Authority officially launched a new tourism promotion theme, “My Marianas,” covering eight dimensions: ocean, sports, road trips, weddings and honeymoons, family, ecology, food, and culture. At this exhibition, the authority highlighted “Marine Paradise,” showcasing the Northern Mariana Islands as a diving destination with rich, diverse, and exciting water activities, bringing Chinese tourists the latest and most comprehensive diving information and resources.