28 Years in the Making – Keeping the EDIT Program

KVB Newsletter for 1st Quarter FY2012
KOSRAE VISITORS BUREAU
AN AGENCY OF THE KOSRAE STATE GOVERNMENT
“Kosrae - The Jewel of Micronesia”
KOSRAE STATE MUSEUM
January 15, 2012
KVB Latest News and Updates Below:
Kosrae is featured in a major Japanese Dive Magazine Website (Diver Magazine Online):
KVB is currently featured twice a month in a major Dive Magazine’s website with stories and pictures
of Kosrae in Japanese language utilizing the jp.co informational highway. Because of this set up, KVB
writes regularly to the Japan dive public about unique dive sites and beautiful pictures to promote Kosrae tourism dive segment. Diver Magazine is one of the biggest magazines in Japan and among the
top three of all dive magazine in Japan based in Tokyo. A column is dedicated to KVB through our negotiation with the magazine free of charge. The stories we’re putting up there include description of
sites, dives and pictures of the Kosrae’s underwater world and also on land activities tourists can do in
Kosrae.
PATA Micronesia gets blessing of MCES to go ahead with its Branding Initiative:
As chairman of the PATA Micronesia chapter, KVB Administrator, Mr. Grant Ismael led the organization’s meeting in Majuro, RMI in August last year to take action on several initiatives. One of the exciting initiatives is the Micronesian branding initiative. This initiative established that the region create a
brand image that is robust and diverse enough to encompass all the islands with a tactical identity. The
brand exercise is to develop a brand identity which includes a process and discipline in developing a
brand image. The chapter had taken a long process of coming up with a strategy to fund a 3-5 year
campaign to create more awareness for the region. This initiative was prompted at the Micronesian
Chief Executive Summit (MCES) meeting in Saipan in 2009 which was initially endorsed by the MCES
body as a tourism project under the Regional Tourism Sub Committee which used PATA Micronesia as
a vehicle to run its initiatives. Up to date, a resolution (MCES Resolution RTC-001) was signed on December 12, 2011 at the Kosrae MCES and PATA Micronesia was tasked by to carry out its final phase.
The resolution included supporting the association’s request for fund from the federal government.
“We are excited with the prospect of submitting this important grant request and to see what the
project will do for our tourism in Micronesia”, said Grant Ismael.
Kosrae JOCV Volunteers staged Tofol area Morning Roadside Clean up Campaign
The two man team of Tatsuro Murayama, locally known as “Aliksa” and Yoichi Kashihara locally known
as “Nena” who literally demonstrate keeping Tofol area roadside garbage-free and at the same time to
send out a message to Kosraean people. Both volunteers are deeply impressed with the natural beauty
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of Kosrae and aspire to keep it clean and beautiful and to share its beauty. This include a daily morning
clean up usually starts around 8:00AM when there’s enough traffic and passerby, starting from Senny’s
Office Supply store to the Governor’s office. Aliksa, who came from Tokyo, said that, “if Kosrae wants
to be a competitive tourist destination, it has to rid of its trash and filths in all areas of its life. The
number one most important thing in tourism is cleanliness”.
KVB gets creative with Social Media promotions:
KVB thru its PR representative in US ran a successful social media competition using Facebook during
the months of October and November. The contest resulted in more than 15 different videos produced and a total of more than 2500 voters participated, with 1101 voters for the winner. The videos
include Top 10 reason Why One Should Visit Kosrae! The winner wins a roundtrip ticket from LA to Kosrae and will visit Kosrae between now and November 2012. KVB utilized Social Media to conduct its
promotion in North America to promote Kosrae Island. There are several Internet Social media campaigns coordinated by KVB thru its PR agent in US which is Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, Pinterest and
Youtube. Blurb and blogs in the Internet created by this project created more than 40,000 impressions
in the year 2011.
Kosrae was selected Top 10 Secret Island Destination in the world by Yahoo.com
On December 3, 2011, we were alerted to the blurb on Yahoo.com Traveler page that Kosrae was mentioned as one of the Top 10 Secret Island getaways in the world. This resulted in numerous inquiries
and potential visitors to Kosrae not to mention free exposure created from this blurb. The story was
direct result of KVB’s PR works in the North American market, in which the story written by Jamie
Moore, a writer who pitched the piece to Yahoo Travel online.
KVB Partners with Lelu Ruins to a Proposal for Conservative Grant
Lelu Ruins Association submitted its final proposal for a Conservation project to the grant donor agency
(UNDP fund) in February 2012 which will include such plans as fencing up the site, and to build a visitor
center and to maintain its Neolithic era rock walled compounds. The grant proposal included a letter
from KVB signed by KVB Administrator. KVB’s main role in the project is to promote the project, and to
train tour guides on guiding etiquettes. Lelu ruins is considered one of the wonders of Pacific historical
site with prehistoric attraction and its basaltic rock walls dated back to the 12 th century. It is considered
one of the main attractions on Kosrae.
KVB at JATA Travel Showcase in Tokyo, Japan:
KVB participated at the JATA Travel Showcase in Tokyo from Sep 29 to Oct 2, 2011. The total number of
visitors was record-high 117,236 through 3 days total. KVB was involved in following main activities
during the trip.
JATA Business Meeting Session: On September 29, 2011 to September 30, 2011, JATA Business Meeting Session is a practical B2B
networking opportunity for companies who are interested in the
Japanese travel outbound market, or who would like to establish
new business relationships with Japanese travel companies. KVB
confirmed 23 match appointments with a variety of Japanese travel companies and succeed in establishing the network and new
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business relationships with them. It was very productive and helpful for us in order to develop the future of Kosrae tourism Japanese market.
Promoting Kosrae tourism to the general visitors, the travel companies and Media or Press:
We participated in the Pacific Island Center “All islands in the Pacific Seminar”
promoted Kosrae tourism with a Kosrae PR Video at the
seminar and with Photo Session at the FSM booth. In addition, we performed weaving of the traditional “Marmar”
for the visitors to FSM booth. It was very attractive for Japanese and promotions for Kosrae to get better known in Japan. We brought
and displayed some handicrafts, the carving of canoe, the tapestries and the woven hand fans, and the
Lelu water at our booth. Those were very interesting for Japanese and many visitors wanted to buy
them. Collaborating with the Rainbownesia Project:
Rainbownesia Project is an official FSM
project and the project team promoted
FSM and gathered tourist contacts.
Photographer Mr. Masa Michishiro,
who visited Kosrae to take pictures at
the end of September and the members of the travel magazine SNUFKIN
who also visited Kosrae at the beginning of September helped Rainbownesia Project and their activity. Through 3 days, we could gather more than 3,000 new members.
Making Sales Calls with Japanese travel companies and Media or Press:
The total number of Sales Calls accomplished by KVB representatives Mr. G. Ismael and Mr. Murayama
was more than 30 companies and 50 People, includes JATA Business Meeting Session with travel
agents and media reps such as HIS travel agency, R&C travel agency, KNT travel agency, NOE, JHC, Hashimoto Foundation, United Spes, Diver magazine, Jalpak, JTB, Islands Flavour, and many more. KVB
is currently organizing a FAM for February 2-7, 2012. We are sure that these FAM will generate interests from the Japan travel market which were not realized before.
Meeting at FSM embassy of Tokyo:
On September 28, 2011, a meeting between State counterparts, FSM Tourism office and FSM Embassy
of Japan regarding the Rainbownesia Project and other collaborative activities for rest of 2011 and
2012. The current FSM State’s promotional events and the First direct flight to Pohnpei were discussed. During this trip, KVB had initiated new networks with a variety of Japanese travel companies
and a lot of Media or Press. Japanese tourists are smallest numbers to visit Kosrae. Hopefully, those
new business relationships will help Kosrae tourism develop and increase Japanese visitors to Kosrae in
the future. However, there are still issues on the island if Kosrae really wants to do business with Japanese company. KVB is hoping a FAM will solidify the interests of the travel agents from Japan regarding Kosrae tourism. A FAM tour is now set for Japanese travel agencies to visit Kosrae in early part of
2012.
Other KVB updates:
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One KVB Press release sent out on Kosrae Tec Diving on December 14, 2011 to several US based
media outlets. The release was picked by more than 10 media outlets generating 4 print stories
and numerous online blurbs and blogs.
Two charter flights to KSA are currently being planned for Kosrae on February 16th and 23th respectively by Our Airline (Air Nauru) direct to Kosrae and return on both dates. So far, plans are
still definite. KVB assisted in early stage of this proposed charters, getting the contacts in place
late last year.
Kosrae video project being spearheaded by Chamber of Commerce through a video company
call Liquid Assets is initiated. KVB will stand ready to assist however we can in order to get this
project launched. KVB’s US PR is negotiating the travel aspect for this project with United Airline and will be sponsoring the social media aspect of this project. This video project will be
used for many purposes including promotional purposes, and also the ability to be uploaded into the Internet social media networks such as YouTube.
A 10-member camera crew from LA TV show “Into the Drink” visited the island later part of last
year in September coordinated by Mr. Nick Lucy, shot underwater and on land activities of the
island for their national TV show. Mr. Lucy have been to Kosrae few times before and initiated
this trip to help promote Kosrae’s tourism. The TV crew was in time to film some of the Liberation Holiday festivities and also do some underwater diving filming. Kosrae Nautilus Resort
owner, Mr. Doug Beitz was responsible in luring this important TV company to Kosrae. KVB assisted this visit. The show will air in March 2012 in US.
Promotional Events KVB participated in 1st Quarter
Oct 2
JATA Travel Showcase 2011, Tokyo (Japan)
October 13 – 17:
Attend Navy travel fair, Air force travel fair, Guam Micronesia Fair
Nov 16-18
Sea Trade Cruise Convention, Singapore
Dec 13-17
PATA-Micronesia 3rd Tri-Annual Chapter Meeting, Palau (Micronesia)
FAM Tours Conducted by KVB (visits by travel trade reps to Kosrae last quarter sponsored by KVB)
Sep 4-7
Two journalists from travel magazine SNUFKIN (Ms. Akiko Miyake & Ms. Yasuyo Maeno)
Sep 19-26
Professional Photographer from Japan Mr. Masa Michishiro
Dec 9-13
Professional Web Designer Ms. Eiko Yoshida
December 19-27 Designer and Producer, Mr. Akira Miwa (Kosrae Travel Guide Book Project)
ABOUT THE ISLAND OF KOSRAE
Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Kosrae is a peaceful spot infused with the Kosraean culture,
and an adventure and eco-traveler's paradise. This internationally acclaimed dive destination is one of
the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and has a population of some 7,600
people. An island with majestic vertical elevations, Kosrae's lush green interior is surrounded by one of
the world's most pristine reef systems and white coral beaches on the island's rim. To learn more
about Kosrae's secret delights, go to http://www.kosrae.com , Email: [email protected], Twitter:
@KosraeIsland or call 691-370-2228/2187, Fax: 691-370-3000.
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