The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands receives Authorized Destination Status from China

Today, December 30, 2004, the China National Tourism Administration granted Authorized Destination Status (ADS) to the Commonwealth Northern Marianas Island, (CNMI). Mr. He Guangwei, Chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, and CNMI Governor, Mr. Juan N. Babauta, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU), which formalizes ADS for the CNMI, during a ceremony held today in the Beijing International Hotel.

With the granting of ADS, authorized travel agencies will be able to organize group tours to the CNMI and advertise the destination. A US commonwealth, the 14 tropical islands comprising the Northern Marianas chain stretch across 400 miles in the western Pacific Ocean just adjacent to the famed Marianas Trench. Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, the main islands of this chain of tropical coral-rimmed islands in the West Pacific, offer friendly, fun and exotic vacations. The three unique tropical paradise islands make an ideal vacation destination for families and individuals, leisure travelers, business executives, and sports enthusiasts, especially those interested in golfing, diving, water sports, cycling and trekking.

The CNMI is a simple destination for the Chinese to travel to with direct flights from Guangzhou (via Southern Airlines), Shanghai (via Eastern Airlines) and Hong Kong (via Continental Airlines). Direct flights are also expected from Beijing in the near future. Chinese tourists can also go to the CNMI on Asiana via Seoul and Northwest via Tokyo.

Commenting on the signing of the ADS with the CNMI, Mr. He Guangwei, director of CNTA, said that “Tourism is the emissary of peace and the bridge of friendship. We sincerely expect to build a bridge of friendship between China and the CNMI through tourism to extend our communication and boost our mutual economic development."

Governor Juan N. Babauta said, “This is excellent for the Commonwealth Northern Marianas Island. We thank this move by the Chinese government and look forward to receiving the people of the People’s Republic of China to our beautiful islands. With the granting of ADS, we look forward to more and more Chinese visitors from China, including those from Hong Kong in the coming year.”

Vicky Benavente, Managing Director of the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), the official tourism board of the (CNMI) added, “We are looking forward to working with our Chinese travel partners to increase the number of visitors to the CNMI. A survey conducted by the World Tourism Organization shows that China is among the top 10 countries in terms of outbound tourism. Its outbound travelers amounted to 15.99 million in the first seven months of 2004, a 63.7 percent rise over the same period of last year, according to statistics from the China National Tourism Administration. The granting of ADS will greatly enhance our tourism industry.”