ALL markets, except Japan, posed a slight growth in tourist arrivals in May, statistics showed.
Data released by the Marianas Visitors Authority showed that tourist arrival from Japan, the CNMI’s major market, has not shown a positive growth since Oct. 2001.
Last May, the Japanese market recorded 25,247 arrivals, which is 14 percent lower than the same period last year.
MVA also recorded a 28 percent decrease in the arrival rate of Japanese tourists from Oct. 2001 to May 2002 compared to the same period in the previous year.
The decline, according to MVA, was due to “uncertainty over economic prospects.”
MVA cited a Japan Travel Bureau survey indicating that “outbound travel during the month declined by 6 percent.”
But latest statistics showed that China, excluding Taiwan, recorded a 276 percent increase, and South Korea a 32 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
Last month, 6,007 Koreans tourists and 783 Chinese visited the CNMI.
MVA said the Korean market growth was attributed to the additional seat capacity following the resumption of Korean Airline flights last January.
Last month, three ships docked on Saipan carrying 2,964 passengers. This represented a 498 percent increase compared to the May 2001 figure.
Only one ship visited May last year, carrying 503 passengers.
Last month, two cruise vessels, the TSS Regal Princess and the MS Fuji Maru, as well as the USS Chancellorsville docked here.
MVA’s record also showed a 150 percent increase in U.S. arrivals.
China’s market growth was attributed to the direct flights of China Southern Airlines to Saipan.
But all islands, except Saipan, experienced lower arrivals last month.
Arrivals to Saipan posted a 2 percent growth, while Rota and Tinian declined by 6 percent and 76 percent.
Of the 38,618 tourists in May, 37,830 came to Saipan, 649 to Rota and 139 to Tinian.
Last year, Saipan had 37,128 visitors, Rota 689 and Tinian 577.
The majority of Saipan’s visitors was composed of Japanese with 24,652 arrivals. Rota and Tinian’s biggest market was the U.S., including Guam.
