MVA: Japanese arrival numbers remain strong

Marianas Visitor’s Authority marketing manager Thomas Kim talks about the travel history of the CNMI’s source markets at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting yesterday at the Kanoa Resort Saipan in Susupe. (Bea Cabrera)

Despite the threat of novel coronavirus to travelers especially in the Asia Pacific region, Japanese arrivals in the Marianas continues at a steady clip, brought from Tokyo to Saipan by Skymark Airlines, which started servicing the route in November last year.

According to Thomas Kim, marketing manager of the Marianas Visitor’s Authority, who was one of the guest speakers at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce general membership meeting yesterday at the Kanoa Resort in Susupe, the coronavirus scare has had minimal impact so far on the arrival numbers from Japan.

“There has been no negative feedback and cancellations reported by our Japanese travel partners. Flights are at a steady 70%…so it is business-as-usual for Japan,” he said.

This echoes Gov. Ralph Torres’ call for the diversification of tourism in the CNMI by building more on the Japanese and Korean markets. It was only recently that three China-based airlines suspended flights to the CNMI, soon after President Trump issued a proclamation that limits the ability of airlines and vessels to enter the United States and its territories.

Kim credits MVA’s diligence to keep stakeholders and travel partners abreast of the coronavirus situation in the CNMI. “We have taken immediate action of releasing massive press releases through online media channels, including social media and website,” he said.

According to Kim, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China issued a document on Jan. 26, 2020, suspending airline ticket sales of flights coming out of China. “All national travel agencies and companies, business group travel and ticket plus hotel products sales were suspended until further notice,” he said.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, the CNMI projected its visitor arrivals to reach 549,956 in fiscal year 2020. But with the outbreak and suspension of China flights, MVA now expects its visitor arrivals to reach 503,304, if the suspension lasts two months; 456,410 visitor arrivals if the suspension lasts six months; and 433,043 visitor arrivals, if the suspension lasts eight months.

Some tourism businesses in Garapan have started to note a drastic drop in the number of Chinese tourists since last week. “It’s been like that for five straight days now.” said a waitstaff at a Garapan restaurant.

Kim assured that MVA will continue to promote the Marianas as a travel destination in Japan and Korea. “MVA will continue to be in communication with airline partners, travel agencies, and hotel partners about the coronavirus [situation] in the CNMI. We are also in close communication with the Commonwealth Health Care Corp. at the direction of Warren Villagomez, who has been supportive in providing us up-to-date information,” he added.