Saipan Air highlights the importance of Japan market-Tan

The launching of Saipan Air, set to become the CNMI’s first national carrier, will reiterate and emphasize the Commonwealth’s unwavering commitment to serve the Japanese tourism market, which continues to hold the islands’ biggest share of arrivals, said Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan.

Tan stressed yesterday that the relationship between the Commonwealth and Japan dates back in history and has been enhanced and become deeply rooted over the years, resulting in a valuable partnership in the tourism sector.

“Internationally, Japan is the third largest travel and tourism economy in the world so its well-being is very important to the region and to the rest of the globe,” added Tan.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio said separately that the Japan market accounts for about half of tourist arrivals in the CNMI.

From the time when Japan Airlines pulled out from the Northern Marianas in 2005, however, Japan arrivals in the islands have suffered considerably and continued to decline since then, according to Tan.

“We have lost 65 percent of our Japanese tourists since 2005, and Saipan Air hopes to bring them back to the previous level and, hopefully, we can continue to grow beyond,” Tan told Saipan Tribune.

Saipan Air is scheduled to have its inaugural flight on July 1.

Saipan Air will initially provide daily flights to Narita City in Japan and four times a week to Beijing, China. By Aug. 1, the airline will offer daily flights to Osaka and thrice-a-week flights to Shenyang.

While Tan recognized in an earlier presentation for the Rotary Club of Saipan the significant and steady increase of Chinese tourists worldwide, he stressed that Japanese tourists will remain as the CNMI’s “most important” market for many years to come.

“Our first goal is to bring back the number of Japanese tourists we lost and bring it back to the level before JAL’s withdrawal from our travel industry,” said Tan.

He pointed out that even with Japan’s recession, aggravated by last year’s earthquake disaster, Japanese travelers have regained their confidence, quickly and steadily recovering from the March 11, 2011, aftermath.

With more air service in the Japan route being provided to the CNMI, Tan said the islands can expect an additional 50,000 tourists annually, which will infuse about $100 million into the local economy.

Tan said that Saipan Air is working closely with Japanese tour coordinators and travel agencies, which will be critical in achieving the company’s ultimate goal of bringing in more tourists to enjoy the islands’ scenic views and historical value and would help turn around the CNMI’s main industry and improve the local economy accordingly.

“Our second goal is to maximize the potential of the entire Japan market with additional cities,” said Tan, adding that Saipan Air is looking at expanding its air service to Nagoya and Fukuoka, including seasonal flights to Sapporo.

Tan urged Saipan Air’s partners and the community in general to support the new airline company. “Saipan Air’s success is the CNMI’s success,” he added.