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CNMI still popular with the Japanese
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Posted on Feb 26 2009
An analysis recently released by the Japanese government disclosing the number of travelers outbound in 2008 indicates some positive trends for the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI) of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
According to the Marianas Visitors Authority office in Japan, the government analysis shows the following:
* Overall outbound travel from Japan is down considerably (by over 1,300,000 travelers) compared to last year and the losses are escalating.
* Among all destinations, the NMI ranks 7th overall in number of arrivals from Japan.
* During 2008, the CNMI was the only significant destination to experience growth instead of declining arrivals. After a first half of moderate single digit growth, the CNMI rang up double-digit growth in the last half of the year.
* Among sites with large numbers of Japanese arrivals, Hawaii, Thailand, Guam, Australia, Philippines, and Bali all experienced declines, some severe and measured in double digit losses month after month.
* Hawaii and Thailand, the number 1 and 2 markets respectively, were hit with especially large declines in arrivals, as was their smaller rival Guam.
“In the face of these sobering Japan outbound numbers, we see that Saipan, Tinian and Rota realized a comparatively better year in 2008 than other destinations,” said Perry Tenorio, managing director of MVA. “Our promotional efforts and good relationship with travel partners in source markets like Japan, Korea, China and Russia were key to having a 2.04 percent increase in arrivals last year.”
Tenorio also credited the commitment of air carrier partners in 2008 with the CNMI’s ability to maintain pace and show small growth in the face of huge tourism declines elsewhere.
Despite the positive trend, MVA and the CNMI government are still concerned about recent announcements by Northwest Airlines/Delta to reduce air service from Japan. MVA is working with travel partners to recover the anticipated loss in airline seats scheduled to take place beginning in March 2009. [B][I](MVA)[/I][/B]
