Air & Sea
Bullish On Majuro
'Marshalls Can Become Another Palau,’ Says JAL Executive
Japan Air Lines still has its eyes on developing a significant niche charter tourism business to the Marshall Islands. The Marshalls, says a senior JAL executive, has the potential to become another “Palau” for Japanese tourists looking for tropical beauty and adventure.
A three-man JAL team visited Majuro in early March. It was led by executive adviser Nobutaka Ishikure to discuss with the new Marshalls government JAL's desire to continue non-stop charters from Japan to Majuro.
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Ishikure told Pacific Magazine that JAL has a "long-term Pacific vision" and "sees Marshall Islands' potential" within this vision, which to date include destinations such as Hawaii, Guam, and Palau.
Ishikure says the success that JAL has enjoyed in Palau can be replicated in the Marshall Islands. In fact, he says it was JAL’s interest that opened the doors in Palau to major international investment in tourism. The same could happen in the Marshall Islands, Ishikure says.
“Palau at the time had only two hotels that could cater to the international guest,” Ishikure explains. “We worked with the Palau government and agreed to do it step-by-step. Now Palau has three international hotels and many smaller hotels.”
But Ishikure also warned that things can go very bad in the Pacific. His best example is Saipan, where JAL lots millions of dollars after flying to that market for nearly three decades. JAL no longer flies to Saipan, and last year sold its hotel on the island for pennies on the dollar.
Saipan failed as a destination for Japanese, Ishikure says, because the local visitor industry and commonwealth government tried to create a "substitute" for Guam or Honolulu. “The Japanese are not looking for another Honolulu,” he says. "When you take a photo in Saipan you couldn't tell if the photo was taken in Guam, Hawaii or Saipan.”
Add to that Saipan’s poor infrastructure, and its loss of cultural uniqueness, and Ishikure says it is no wonder the Northern Marianas visitor industry is collapsing.
In the case of Palau and the Marshall Islands he says, “we don't want to make the same mistake.”
JAL began flying to the Marshall Islands in February 2007 with six charter flights. At the beginning of this year, however, JAL cancelled its first charter scheduled for March because of safety concerns regarding turning lights at the airport. If they are installed, Ishikure says the lights would provide additional flexibility for scheduling charters months in advance. The equipment would allow JAL to fly charters to the Marshalls at night, about the only time it can get departure times at Tokyo’s busy Narita International.
Ishikure says his meetings with Marshalls' officials were “fruitful.” Majuro offered two turning light options, which upon approval from JAL’s technical experts may lead to JAL resuming charters as early as August.
