According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, arrivals to Saipan, Tinian and Rota registered 27,203 visitors in July compared to 35,164 in July 2010.
Overall, visitor arrivals are down 7 percent this fiscal year to 279,195 visitors.
Arrivals from Japan dropped 39 percent to 10,151. In addition to travel being dampened by the March 2011 earthquake, in July 2011 the NMI received only two daily flights from Narita compared to three daily flights in July 2010. Delta Air Lines also suspended its daily flight from Nagoya to Saipan. As a result, the NMI had only 13,939 available airseats from Japan compared to 25,041 airseats in July 2010. Overall arrivals from Japan this fiscal year are down 17 percent.
Arrivals from the primary market of Korea dropped 17 percent in July to 8,997 arrivals. Available airseats were down 21 percent in July due to Asiana Airlines reduction in daytime flights from Seoul and temporary suspension of flights from Busan. However, despite the recent downtrend in arrivals from Korea, overall arrivals from Korea this fiscal yearto- date are unchanged from 2010.
The secondary market of China saw 4,898 arrivals in July, a 9 percent increase compared to the same month last year. Arrivals from China are also up 9 percent overall this fiscal year.
Arrivals from Russia continued their year-to-year growth streak that began in December 2010, posting a gain of 20 percent in July 2011 to 450 visitors. The lucrative market is up 19 percent overall this fiscal year.
MVA also reported a 966 percent growth in arrivals from Hong Kong in July to 341 visitors. This follows a 2000+ percent increase in May 2011 and a 1500+ percent increase in June. The increase follows the launching of direct Hong Kong-Saipan flights by Fly Micronesia in May.
Guam posted a 1 percent increase in arrivals to 1,476 in July, while arrivals from other markets were down: United States (-39 percent to 577), Philippines (-29 percent to 30), and Other Areas (-44 percent to 192).
Beginning July 2011, the MVA has begun including Taiwan arrivals under Other Areas due to the low number of visitors from that market.
