October arrivals down

Tourist arrivals last month declined by 6 percent but was strong enough as a starting point for the new fiscal year, said the Marianas Visitors Authority yesterday.

MVA data released yesterday showed that a total of 34,203 tourists arrived in the CNMI in October 2006, which is a 3.4-percent decrease compared to October 2005’s arrivals of 35,418.

“We were encouraged to see strong numbers during the month of October… It started out strong as the new [fiscal] year begins,” said MVA managing director Perry P. Tenorio.

He said the 3.4-percent decline “is certainly much less of a decrease than in previous months this year.”

In FY 2006, the CNMI posted the biggest decline in January at 21 percent and in September at 26 percent.

Overall tourist arrivals plunged 16 percent in FY 2006, translating to a loss of nearly 100,000 tourist arrivals, caused primarily by the pullout of Japan Airlines in October 2005.

From 376,263 in FY2005, Japan arrivals went down to 280,292 in FY 2006. Total arrivals went down to 443,812 in FY06 from 529,557 in FY 2005.

In October 2006, Japan arrivals registered a 6-percent decline. From 22,591 in October 2005, the arrivals went down to 21,330 last month.

Korean market up 8 percent

Last month’s arrivals data showed consistent growth in the Korean market. From 5,369 arrivals in October 2005, it rose to 5,818 last month, reflecting an 8-percent increase.

“The continued promotions in Korea are obviously paying off as our monthly arrival numbers continue to increase,” said Tenorio.

These promotions included the recent airing of a TV soap opera, Foolish My Love, which was filmed in the Northern Marianas, and the holding of Korean beauty pageants and modeling events on Saipan, among others.

Recognizing the market’s growth, Asiana Airlines is set to add three more flights to Saipan during the Christmas holidays this year.

Asiana Airlines currently flies once daily to Saipan.

China flat growth

The October 2006 arrivals data showed a flat growth in the China market. Arrivals from China totaled 3,630 last month. In October 2005, it totaled 3,637.

Other markets such as the United States, the Philippines and Russia posted an increase in arrivals last month. Data showed that U.S. arrivals went up 6 percent; the Philippines, 68 percent; and Russia, 89 percent.

MVA said recorded 778 visitors from the U.S., 463 from the Philippines and 87 from Russia last October.

Meantime, Guam, Taiwan, and other areas showed negative growth.

Guam arrivals went down by 6 percent at 1,794 tourists; Taiwan by 93 percent or 31 tourists; and other areas by 27 percent, or 272 tourists.