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Tourist arrivals up 7 percent in May
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Posted on Jun 19 2000
Visitor arrivals for the month of May totaled 39,558, or almost a seven percent increase compared to the same period in May of the previous year, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
Japan, the CNMI’s biggest source of visitors, registered a slight decline of two percent or a total of 29,267. Based on statistics, the aircraft from Japan were 75 percent occupied by the visitors during the month of May. The reduction in tourist arrivals from Japan was partly brought about by the termination of Nagoya-Saipan direct flight by Continental where some 2,081 visitors arrived in May 1999.
Arrivals during the Golden week period brought in 2.5 percent less visitors compared to the same period last year. Golden Week was celebrated on April 27-May 7, 2000.
Travel agencies in Japan cited two reasons for such a decline: a) rise in demand to competing destinations of the CNMI as travelers were attracted to Korea, Bali, Hong Kong and Thailand, and; b) reduction in direct service as most travelers wanted to arrive on the same day that they depart Japan and vice versa.
However, travel agencies find that there were not enough airline seats to meet this preference, therefore, travelers had to change the departure date or destination.
Taiwan led the growth among the major markets with a phenomenal increase of 740 percent .
This was a result of the bi-weekly charter flights brought in by Mandarin Airlines which began on May 5, 2000. This flight carried approximately 825 visitors for the month of May who spend four nights in the Northern Marianas.
Boosted by the resumption of Asiana Airlines direct flight from Pusan, Korea sent 6,575 visitors for the month of May. So far, May arrivals brought in the most number of visitors from Korea for Fiscal Year 2000.
The continuous increase in visitor arrivals from Korea only reflects the economic recovery of the nation that was severely affected by the Asian recession.
