(Marianas Visitors Authority) — According to monthly statistics from MVA, arrivals to Saipan, Tinian and Rota decreased 14% to 21,517 visitors in July 2024, compared to 25,089 visitors received in July 2023. Monthly arrivals are 53% lower compared to pre-pandemic levels of July 2019, when arrivals reached 45,570 visitors.
Visitor arrivals from South Korea registered 15,978 in July, 23% lower than July 2023. In July 2023 the Marianas received an extraordinarily high number of visitors and flights from South Korea — 154 flights from Seoul Incheon and Busan combined — when flights to Guam were transferred to Saipan following a major typhoon in Guam. July 2024 saw 108 flights from Seoul Incheon amid a return to average visitor arrivals for the month. During the peak summer season, Jeju Air added an additional flight from July 17 to August 18 to capture high travel demand, making three daily flights on the Incheon-Saipan route by Jeju and one daily flight by T’Way. Visitors from Korea comprise 75% of all arrivals to the Marianas.
Visitor arrivals from Japan registered 647 in July 2024 compared to 898 visitors in July 2023, a 28% decrease. However, load factors on the Tokyo-Saipan flight registered healthy numbers at nearly 70%. This is due to the new flight schedule being more convenient for Japanese and transit passengers from the U.S. mainland. The strong U.S. dollar and weaker Japanese yen — coupled with a weak Japanese economy — continue to influence travelers to choose non-U.S. or domestic destinations. United Airlines flies three times weekly from Tokyo-Narita to Saipan as MVA works to remain top-of-mind among consumers until conditions for overseas travel improve. Japan was once a top source market for the Marianas.
China arrivals in July 2024 reached 2,037 compared to 1,075 arrivals in July 2023. Prior to the pandemic, China was the second largest source market of visitors to the Marianas with multiple direct flights a week from five cities. Hong Kong Airlines now flies twice weekly between Hong Kong and Saipan.
In July, the Marianas also received 1,204 visitors for the United States, 1,006 visitors from Guam, and a combined 645 visitors from all other markets.
