According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, arrivals to the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota registered 21,629 visitors last month compared to 26,255 in April 2010.
Arrivals from Japan dropped 26 percent to 7,696. In addition to the Japan crisis, flights from Osaka and Nagoya were suspended on April 3 and April 4 respectively, due to the low travel demand “death valley” period, with Osaka flights re-instated during peak season including Golden Week at the end of April. Also, in April 2011 the NMI received only two daily flights from Narita compared to three daily flights in April 2010. Cancellations resulting from the Japan crisis have tapered off and the MVA is optimistic about bookings for the summer period beginning in July. A study by travel industry research firm Japan Travel Bureau Foundation found that following the earthquake, outbound travel demand from Japan hit bottom in mid-April and the number of departures from Narita Airport, as well as new bookings for upcoming months, is now steadily increasing.
Meanwhile, arrivals from the primary market of Korea were also strongly influenced by the Japan disaster, dropping 26 percent to 6,349 arrivals. However, Korea has registered 10 percent growth overall this fiscal year.
The secondary market of China saw 2,815 arrivals in April, a 19 percent decrease compared to the same month last year. In April 2011 the NMI received only one daily flight from China compared to two daily flights in April 2010. Sichuan Airlines launched four weekly charter flights in May 2011, a move expected to bring an upswing in arrivals from China in the coming months.
The number of visitors from the United States rose 27 percent to 842 in April, bolstered by one military ship visit and more passenger cruise visitor arrivals than in April 2010. Arrivals from the lucrative market of Russia posted a fifth straight month of increase, rising 9 percent to 283. Also, arrivals were up higher from Guam (+11 percent to 1,533), from Other Areas (+72 percent to 2,030), and from Taiwan (+80 percent to 18).
