Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) – Nature was deemed the most memorable aspect of The Marianas in a recent survey conducted by the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) at the Seoul International Travel Fair 2025 in Korea earlier this month.
Along with winning the “Best Booth Event Award” at the event, the MVA conducted a consumer survey with 600 respondents. Among the 150 respondents who had previously visited The Marianas, 41% selected “natural scenery” and 15% chose “sports and activities” as the most memorable aspects of their trip. In terms of first impressions of The Marianas, “the ocean” (31%) and “a relaxing destination” (8%) were the most frequently mentioned, reinforcing the image of The Marianas as a peaceful, nature-based travel destination.
Of all respondents, 63% were in their 30s and 40s. When asked about their travel preferences, 52% indicated they preferred independent travel over package tours, and 72.5% said they obtain travel information through social media platforms led by Instagram, YouTube, and NAVER blog. Notably, 32% specifically cited Instagram as their primary source for travel content, reflecting the growing trend among younger travelers for customized and non-traditional travel experiences.
“Through our travel fair survey, we once again confirmed that The Marianas is not just a relaxing getaway, but the perfect destination for independent travelers looking to create their own experiences in nature,” said MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “Many respondents said they get their travel content from social channels, which is exactly why the MVA has been helping to develop more local content creation, such as through our #TheMarianasExperience video contest held last during May Marianas Tourism Month. Check out the winners on our social channels, share, and help us promote our Marianas natural beauty!”
Participants in the survey had the chance to win hotel certificates from major hotel partners, including Aqua Resort Club Saipan, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, Grandvrio Resort Saipan, LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, and Marianas Beach Resort. Additionally, the MVA demonstrated Chamorro and Carolinian dancing and coconut fond weaving and distributed its newly designed travel guidebook in Korean via QR code at the booth.
Participants in a survey conducted by the Marianas Visitors Authority at Seoul International Travel Fair in June 2025 voted the "natural scenery" of The Marianas as most memorable about the destination
The Marianas is an archipelago of 14 islands - including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota - in the Western Pacific. The Marianas are home to indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people, as well as over 20 different ethnicities from around the world who live and work in this harmonious tropical paradise. Ancient latte stone limestone monoliths, traditional nature-based ocean navigation not reliant on modern technology, and a culture seasoned by East and West influences are just a few of the experiences found in The Marianas, where pristine sea, sand, and skies are only a 3–4-hour flight from major Asian gateway cities. From South Korea, Jeju Air and T’Way provide direct flights to Saipan from Seoul-Incheon. United Airlines flies three times a week from Tokyo-Narita, Japan, and daily from Guam. Hong Kong Airlines flies twice weekly from Hong Kong. Interisland travel between Saipan, Tinian, and Rota is provided by Star Marianas Air. For more information on The Marianas, visit www.mymarianas.com, Facebook/VisitTheMarianas, or Instagram @themarianas.
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