By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

JAPAN arrivals continue to decline, but the launching of new flights from China and South Korea resulted in increases in the number of tourists from these two markets.
According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, December arrivals from South Korea increased by 9 percent compared to the same period last year, while China increased by 28 percent.
The Russian market is also up — by 7 percent.
MVA said Korean arrivals totaled 8,102 in December, up from last year’s 7,402.
There were 3,976 visitors from China in December compared to 3,095 during the same period last year.
From 235 arrivals in Dec. 2005, the Russian market increased to 252 last month.
MVA said tourists from the Philippines also went up — from 305 in Dec. 2005 to 452 last month.
MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio, in a statement, said they remain enthusiastic about the growth of these different markets.
“We are working hard to fill the void left by Northwest Airlines to assure that our Japan arrival numbers increase. Although they do not make up for the loss of the Osaka route, we are encouraged by the charter flights being operated by JAL into the CNMI,” said Tenorio.
Japan Airlines flew nine charter flights to the CNMI in December.
But MVA said due to the suspension of the Osaka flight by Northwest Airlines, Japan arrivals decreased by 18 percent in Dec. 2006.
The flight suspension shows a direct correlation in arrivals as the Osaka flights supplied 5,642 seats monthly to the CNMI.
MVA said Japan arrivals were down by 4,258 individuals in Dec. 2006.
From 24,047 Japanese arrivals in Dec. 2005, the number went down to 19,789 last month.
Overall arrivals in the CNMI last month decreased by 7.29 percent — from 38,353 in Dec. 2005 to 35,556 last month.