According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, arrivals to Saipan, Tinian and Rota registered 23,451 visitors last month compared to 27,015 in May 2010. Overall, visitor arrivals are down 4 percent this fiscal year to 288,388 visitors.
Arrivals from Japan dropped 34 percent to 7,567.
However, based on industry projections, MVA is optimistic about bookings for the summer period beginning in July.
In May 2011 the CNMI received only two daily flights from Narita compared to three daily flights in May 2010, another negative effect on Japan figures.
“The last time arrivals rates from Japan were this low was in 1984, while the last time overall arrivals were this low were in Oct. 2001, right after 9-11,” said MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio.
Arrivals from the primary market of Korea were also strongly influenced by the Japan disaster, dropping 24 percent to 7,303 arrivals.
The secondary market of China saw 5,383 arrivals in May, a 70 percent increase compared to the same month last year.
Arrivals from the lucrative market of Russia continued to show improvement over last year, rising 6 percent to 324. Visitor arrivals the United States also rose 62 percent to 1,209 in May, largely due to visits by three military ships.
Arrivals were down from Guam (-4 percent to 1,386), Philippines (-31 percent to 43), and Other Areas (-5 percent to 212).
