SAIPAN — Seventh-grade students at Dandan Middle School got a firsthand look at the role tourism plays in the Marianas last Friday when the Marianas Tourism Education Council and the Marianas Visitors Authority paid a visit to their classrooms as part of an annual islandwide outreach program.
The program, led jointly by MTEC and MVA, reaches fifth-, seventh- and tenth-grade students through interactive presentations highlighting tourism as the Commonwealth’s leading economic driver. The initiative is designed to help students understand how the visitor industry supports jobs, local businesses and community programs, while encouraging young residents to see themselves as future contributors to the Marianas’ tourism economy.
Jack Aranda, community projects coordinator for MVA, provided an overview of the agency’s responsibilities, including destination marketing, community events, tourism product development and international promotion. He was joined by Catherine Perry, a board member of MTEC, who spoke with students about the importance of hospitality in welcoming visitors to the islands.
Topics covered during the presentation included marketing, destination enhancement, community partnerships and the MVA’s Far From Ordinary brand, under which the islands are promoted to visitors globally.
“Engaging students early helps them see how tourism connects to everyday life in the Marianas,” Aranda said. “By understanding the value of the visitor industry and the spirit of Hafa Adai–Tirow culture, our youth can help ensure that the Marianas is a truly Far From Ordinary destination today and in the future.”
Edinna C. Pangelinan, a seventh-grade teacher at Dandan Middle School, said the visit was valuable for her students. “Tourism is a very important subject for our students to understand, especially because of its impact on our economy,” she said. “It was great for them to learn about the work the Marianas Visitors Authority does, the statistics behind tourism, and how they can play a role in supporting our community.”
MTEC is a nonprofit organization with a mission to foster community understanding of the visitor industry, educate the public about the economic and social benefits of tourism and promote the Hafa Adai–Tirow hospitality spirit throughout the community.
