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‘Shanghai flights to draw millions in tourism dollars’
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Posted on Sep 04 2008
Shanghai flights slated begin serving Saipan later this month could draw millions in tourism dollars to the CNMI according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
In an interview Thursday, MVA managing director Perry Tenorio said the flights—slated to begin Sept. 29—will consist of 220-seat Boeing 767s flying directly to and from Saipan and Shanghai twice each week, on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
According to MVA data, the Chinese tourism market has previously given a major economic boost to the CNMI of up to $125 million each fiscal year. The new flights could do the same, Tenorio said, noting that Saipan has a special designation from the Chinese government, giving the nation’s tourists easier access to the island.
“Part of the draw is that we have the Approved Destination Status from the government,” Tenorio said. “Not only that, we’re a resort destination with close proximity to China.”
News of the Shanghai flights comes amid a major slump in Chinese tourism to the CNMI. MVA statistics released last month showed a 57 percent decline in Chinese visitors for July 2008 compared to July the previous year. A total of 4,107 Chinese tourists arrived in the Commonwealth in July 2007, while only 1,749 arrived in July 2008. MVA in a statement last month attributed the decline to a reduction in the number of charter flights from China reaching the CNMI.
