December arrivals plummet

Visitor arrivals to the CNMI plunged anew in December, this time by nearly 20 percent compared with the numbers in December 2004, as the premier Japanese market continue to dwindle following the pullout of Japan Airlines’ regular flights to Saipan.

The overall decline in the number of tourists, which totaled 38,353, came about even as several charter flights ferried in more tourists from different markets, including Japan, in December.

Only 24,047 Japanese visitors came to the islands last month, 29 percent less than December 2004’s 34,015. The nearly 10,000 difference significantly impacted total arrivals, which dropped by 19.79 percent from December 2004’s 47,817 total.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Vicky I. Benavente attributed the significant decline in Japanese arrivals to JAL’s pullout, but said that December arrivals still posted the highest monthly total since the air carrier ceased flights from Japan in October 2005.

Japanese visitors in October and November 2005 totaled 22,591 and 21,893, respectively.

However, even the increase in Korean and American travels to the CNMI last month failed to sufficiently mitigate the crippling effect of JAL’s pullout on the islands’ tourism industry.

December 2005’s Korean arrivals totaled 7,402, increasing by 14 percent from December 2004’s 6,492. The MVA partly attributed the increase to Asiana Airlines’ three additional flights weekly that began last month to accommodate high travel demand from Korea.

“Traditionally, the month of December is a high peak period for outbound travel in Korea. During this month, schools are closed for the winter holiday season, making it a popular outbound travel period for the family market,” Benavente said.

“Promotional programs aimed toward the travel agents in Korea were implemented to encourage travel to the CNMI. The MVA’s Korea office and Asiana Airlines coordinated a ‘volume incentive’ program, challenging travel agents to increase their sales tours to the CNMI. Travel agents were rewarded for exceptional sales based on their monthly sales quota,” she added.

Arrivals from the United States went up to 783 last month, 160 visitors more than December 2004’s 623. Last month’s total reflected a 26-percent increase in the market, with the MVA attributing the development to the arrival of one military ship, the USS Pasadena, which brought in a crew of 143.

Chinese visitors totaled 2,916 last month, slightly increasing from December 2004’s 2,803.

Most of the CNMI’s tourist markets, however, suffered setbacks, including Taiwan, which only contributed 25 visitors; and Hong Kong, 179.

Arrivals from Guam slid to 2,003—9 percent less than the 2,191 visitors that came to the Northern Marianas in December 2001. Tourists from the Philippines totaled 305, translating to a 38-percent decline from December 2004’s 489 tourists.