NMI visitor arrivals grow 10 pct. in July 2015

Visitor arrivals to the Northern Mariana Islands in July 2015 were up 10 percent compared to July 2014. According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, arrivals to the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota registered 40,882 visitors in July 2015, compared to 37,253 visitors received in July 2014.

“Through July this fiscal year, total visitors arrivals are up 12 percent compared to the same period last year,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “As for August, we are seeing a significant reduction in numbers due to temporary cancellations of nighttime operations at the Saipan International Airport in the wake of Typhoon Soudelor. The good news is, visitors are still coming and 24-hour operation has now been restored at the airport.”

Arrivals from Korea jumped 52 percent in July to 15,321 visitors. Asiana Airlines operated summer charter flights four times weekly throughout the month using an A321 with 171 seats, and the MVA has been working with the airline and major travel agencies to promote and boost sales through various channels to convert this seasonal charter service to new regular flight service. Following significant cancellations as a result of Typhoon Soudelor, major travel agencies are now rapidly picking up travel bookings again for September. The MVA is now launching special joint promotions with Asiana Airlines and Jeju Air to attract more Korean travelers to the NMI as part of the recovery plan.

Arrivals from China edged 2 percent higher compared to July 2014 at 17,964 visitors. Century Tours operated four charter flights a week from Beijing to Saipan from July 12 instead of the current three flights a week. Dynamic Airways also launched new charter flights from Hong Kong to Saipan on July 19, operating three times a week and targeting the South China market. Because of Typhoon Soudelor, 20 charter flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong were cancelled from Aug. 2 to Aug. 15 and around 5,310 tour cancellations in total were seen during these period.

Arrivals from Japan fell 11 percent to 5,624 visitors without any charter flights from Japan to the NMI during the month of July. Due to the fiber cable damage in July, several Delta Air Lines flights were diverted to Guam or cancelled. With the closing of Saipan International Airport to nighttime flights as a result of Typhoon Soudelor, airlift from Japan has been reduced by 60 percent from Aug. 2 to Aug. 17, with 6,579 seats cut to 2,607 seats. Delta and major Japanese travel agents launched a major summer campaign designed to boost arrivals from the Japan market in July, August, and September but this and other promotional campaigns were temporarily suspended following Typhoon Soudelor. The MVA is preparing to return to promotions full-force in August with key agents, given the quick pace of cleanup and recovery. (MVA)