(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority reports that visitor arrivals to The Marianas totaled 12,674 in August 2025, a 41% decrease compared to 21,613 visitors received in August 2024. So far, this fiscal year to date, visitor arrivals are 31% lower than over the same period last year.
The decline in arrivals is largely attributed to a drastic reduction in air seat capacity, dropping from approximately 760,000 in FY 2018 to a projected 260,000 for FY 2025, a 66% overall loss. This includes a 59% loss of air seats from Korea over the period, largely due to unfavorable currency exchange and fierce airline competition, and a complete loss of flights from mainland China under geopolitical changes with the U.S. The tourism office continues to urge immediate financial and policy intervention by public and private stakeholders to stabilize flight service as an essential first step to rebuilding tourist arrivals.
South Korea
South Korea remained the destination’s top visitor source market, with 8,364 arrivals in August 2025, a 48% decline from August 2024. Flight operations have been unstable for over a year, with lone air carriers Jeju Air and T’way Air frequently suspending or reducing flights. The Marianas received 80 flights from Seoul in August 2025 compared to 111 flights last year. Jeju Air operated twice daily flights during August 2025, while T’way Air suspended its daily flight to Saipan from August 19 until Sept. 28. Jeju Air also suspended its night flight from Sept. 8 to Sept. 30 due to low ticket sales and fares. The inconsistent flight schedule has created further instability by making it difficult for travel agencies or travelers to plan promotions or trips. On a positive note, The Marianas will receive three charter flights from Busan during the Chuseok holiday beginning Thursday, Oct. 2, bringing an estimated 500 visitors from Korea’s second largest city. Unlike ongoing scheduled flights from Seoul operated by the airlines, the seasonal charter flights from Busan are guaranteed by travel agency Hana Tour and sold as travel packages that include flights, hotel accommodation, and guided tours.
Japan market
Visitor arrivals from Japan reached 919 arrivals in August 2025 compared to 800 in August 2024, a 14% increase. United Airlines operates direct flights from Tokyo Narita to Saipan three times weekly and will reinstate a more favorable flight schedule by November, which is anticipated to further positively impact arrivals. Earlier this year, the MVA instated the Marianas Revival Project, aimed at rebuilding ties of government, business, tourism, cultural exchange, and community with Japan. Toward that goal, a Marianas delegation led by Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho joined the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on Aug. 6, and MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron also met with Nenpou Shinkyu Buddhist Denomination in Osaka to discuss continued cultural exchange and the organization’s annual visits to The Marianas. In addition, the JTB-MVA Marianas Tourism Business Development Conference was held on Aug. 21, 2025, in Saipan to explore potential projects in the destination by Japan’s top tour agency.
China market
Arrivals from China reached 594 in August compared to 2,319 arrivals a year ago, a 74% decrease. In a sign of turnaround for the market, the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program resumed in July following a three-month suspension, and Hong Kong Airlines resumed twice weekly flights to Saipan beginning on Sept. 21. EVS-TAP is a restricted sub-program of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program that allows prescreened nationals of the People’s Republic of China to travel to the U.S. destination without a visa under specified conditions. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, China comprised about 40% of visitors to The Marianas, with direct flights from multiple mainland cities. The stability of EVS-TAP is seen by many stakeholders as essential to the full revival of the market.
Other markets
Additional visitor arrivals in August 2025 included:
Guam: 1,181 visitors
United States: 1,119 visitors, including 325 ship arrivals
Other markets (Combined): 497 visitors
Factors effecting air service
Factors contributing to the decline in air seats to The Marianas include:
• Currency exchange rate. The strong U.S. dollar against the Japanese Yen and Korean Won makes non-U.S. destinations more affordable and appealing for travelers from these two top source markets of The Marianas.
• Airline priorities. Airlines achieve higher profit by operating multiple short-haul routes in a day within Asia rather than one longer flight to Saipan.
• Oversupply to Guam. Korean Air–Asiana Airlines merger mandates have required Korean Air to reinstate a large percentage of the air seats it provided to Guam before the pandemic, resulting in an oversupply of air seats and a steep drop in airfare across all carriers servicing the route. Many travel agents have also turned their efforts away from Saipan and to focus on fulfilling their earlier commitments to sell hard block — or guaranteed — seats to Guam, the closest competitor to The Marianas.
• Industry shortages. Global production delays in the delivery of new aircraft, particularly with Boeing, are limiting the availability of planes across all carriers, causing airlines to forego less profitable routes like The Marianas.
• Carrier exits. Asiana Airlines exited the Saipan market in Summer 2024 during its merger with Korean Air, resulting in a loss of seats by the only full-service carrier providing flights from Korea.
MVA is projecting 129,000 visitor arrivals in FY 2026, 21% lower than the 165,000 arrivals anticipated in FY 2025 ending on Sept. 30. MVA is also seeking a $10 million budget in FY 2026 to initiate a three-year, stop-gap plan to re-establish stable air service to the destination and increase consumer demand with enhancements to products and services focused on global travel trends of sustainability, wellness/health, learning, and regenerative tourism. MVA is also exploring its eligibility for funding opportunities through the U.S. Department of Transportation to address the urgent need for flight stabilization.
