Previous Story
MVA reports modest growth in visitor arrivals to CNMI
|
Posted on Jan 19 2001
Tourist arrivals in the Northern Marianas registered a slight increase of 1 percent for the month of December totaling 44,870 compared to the same period of the previous year, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
According to MVA, Taiwan led the biggest growth in visitor arrivals with a huge jump of 609 percent, the biggest growth to date for fiscal year 2000. Tourism officials attributed the growth to the ongoing Taipei-Saipan direct flights from Mandarin Airlines.
Arrivals record from Japan, the island’s main market showed a mere 1 percent increase compared to the same month of the previous year or a total of 32,080.
MVA said arrivals from Japan grew mainly due to the year-end holidays during the month which gave travelers the chance to take long weekend breaks.
Ship arrivals from Japan also increased as it brought in 1,556 passengers compared to the 1,262 record in December 1999. Tourism officials also noted the increase in Japan arrivals to Tinian and Rota during the month.
While arrivals from Korea posted a nine percent growth, tourism officials were disappointed that it did not register a double-digit growth. Asiana Airlines increased its weekly flights from seven to ten flights per week effective December 10, 2000 due to the projected increase in demand.
At the same time, arrivals from Hong Kong, a secondary market for the CNMI, posted a slight 1 percent growth.
Arrivals from the United States and Guam declined 28 percent and nine percent, respectively. (LFR)
