THE Marianas Visitors Authority reports that visitor arrivals to the CNMI totaled 7,873 in June 2025, a 60% decrease compared to 19,665 visitors received in June 2024. So far this fiscal year, visitor arrivals are 30% lower than over the same period last year.
South Korea
South Korea remained the leading visitor source market with 4,793 arrivals in June 2025, 66% decline from 13,900 visitors in June 2024. The Marianas received 39 flights from Korea in June 2025 compared to 98 flights last year. Jeju Air’s twice daily flights last July were reduced to once a day from March 30 to July 12 this year. T’way Air suspended its daily flight from Seoul from June 9 to July 6 as part of over 300 routes suspended globally by the airline due to continued declining profitability. Last year arrival figures also reflected flights by Asiana Airlines which ended its flights to Saipan in July 2024 under its then-pending merger with Korean Air, resulting in a loss of eight flights for the month year-on-year.
Other continuing contributing factors include the strength of the U.S. dollar against the Korean won, increased governmental oversight and strict maintenance requirements following the deadly December 2024 crash in Korea, and fierce competition with Southeast Asian destinations. A continuing shortage of new Boeing aircraft across numerous carriers worldwide — which is contributing to strong route competition — is anticipated to be alleviated with the delivery of new equipment beginning in 2026.
Japan market
Visitor arrivals from Japan reached 519 arrivals in June 2025 compared to 616 in June 2024. Similar to last year, United Airlines operates direct flights from Narita to Saipan three times weekly. United Airlines is expected to reinstate a more favorable flight schedule from Tokyo-Narita to Saipan by November, which is anticipated to positively impact arrivals. MVA joined Gov. Arnold Palacios in meetings with several Japanese airlines in June. However, overall outbound travel from Japan remains about 40% lower compared to before the pandemic, and arrivals to the Marianas from Japan remain dampened due to the relative strength of the U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen.
China market
Arrivals from China sputtered to 94 in June 2025, reflecting a 95% decrease from 1,936 visitors recorded in June 2024. Last week U.S. Customs and Border Protection resumed processing travelers’ applications under the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program following an abrupt suspension in April which led to a precipitously decline in arrivals from China and flight suspension. CNMI EVS-TAP is a restricted sub-program of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program and allows prescreened nationals of the People’s Republic of China to travel to the destination without a visa under specified conditions.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, China comprised over 48% of the Marianas’ visitors, with direct flights from multiple cities. Hong Kong Airlines is anticipated to resume flights to Saipan on Sept. 21.
Other markets
Additional visitor arrivals in June 2025 included:
Guam: 990 visitors
United States: 1,023 visitors
Other markets (combined): 454 visitors
