Coming on the heels of the growing Chinese outbound tourists are more package tours and services being offered by the global travel industry leaders. While in Beijing, China last week, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial joined Century Tours in launching additional flights from Shanghai and Beijing to Saipan.

Beginning November this year, two more A330 planes operated by Sichuan Airlines will be chartered by Century Tours and Dynasty Holiday with the support of Duty Free Shoppers Saipan. These two travel companies are the authorized agents by the government of the Northern Marianas to promote the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in China. The new flights will bring the total weekly schedule to four from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to Saipan.

Saipan has been a favorite Pacific destination for Chinese tourists in the last few years with arrivals from China increasing steadily in the last four years. In 2010, Saipan recorded 42,000 Chinese tourists compared to the 29,000 visitors from the previous year. With the new charters, Fitial anticipates a 10-percent increase by the end of 2011.The increase in arrival is expected to be derived from increased promotion efforts in key cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and in the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu,said Fitial. “Moreover, with the growing demand for quality island vacation packages, Saipan, as the nearest U.S. Pacific island, will offer flexible tour packages ranging from leisure, shopping, outdoor activities, diving, golf and romantic getaways.

Saipan has also become a famous destination for wedding and honeymoon couples. Package tour sales for weddings and honeymoons have steadily increased in the last three years.We have a lot to offer tourists especially during the winter season in the northeast region of China,added Fitial. “The travel distance also increases our marketability over other destinations in Southeast Asia.Flights from Shanghai to Saipan are direct and take only less than four hours allowing more time to be spent on tour activities within a four- or five-day package. To satisfy the demand in the Beijing and the northern region, Air China has just released a notice to Century Tours that it will start a weekly scheduled flight from Beijing to Saipan within the next two months.

During a recent news briefing held in Beijing, Fitial and Beijing Administration deputy director De Bin Yu shared with more than 100 travel agents and media about the new scheduled flight, which is expected to ramp up the arrivals coming into Saipan in 2012.In his remarks at the launching of the new Beijing flights, Fitial stated, “We have great accommodations, magnificent sights to behold, great culture and people, delicious Chamorro and Carolinian cuisine and other international treats.The governor added that a four- to five-day vacation package may not even be enough to experience all the good things Saipan, Tinian and Rota have to offer.