(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority reports that visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 3,277 in April 2026, a 72% decrease compared to 11,880 visitors in April 2025.
The destination was hit by Super Typhoon Sinlaku in mid-April, resulting in temporary suspension of international nighttime flight operations pending finalization of repairs at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. As the community, federal and agencies, non-profit organizations, and businesses pull together to recover, tourism stakeholders are looking to this summer for the resumption of mainstream tourism.
The destination has also struggled to recover visitor arrivals since the pandemic due to multiple factors including currency disadvantages, rising fuel costs, airline strategic decisions, fierce destination competition, and geo-political changes between the U.S. and the destination’s once primary source market of China.
South Korea
South Korea remained the Marianas’ top source market in April, despite major flight disruptions following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Visitor arrivals from South Korea totaled 740, down 90% from April 2025. Jeju Air has opened online bookings for the planned resumption of direct Seoul-Saipan flights beginning June 20, pending operational conditions.
Japan market
Visitor arrivals from Japan fell 75% to 225 arrivals in April 2026 compared to 910 in April 2025. United Airlines is scheduled to resume its three weekly direct flights from Tokyo Narita to Saipan on August 2. Major travel agencies are awaiting the reopening of Saipan’s international airport to resume package sales.
China market
Arrivals from China dropped 50% in April to 391 visitors compared to 788 arrivals a year ago. Hong Kong Airlines is expected to resume Hong Kong-Saipan service in July, with the exact date to be confirmed. The Marianas receives most Chinese visitors under the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, a restricted sub-program of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program that allows prescreened nationals of the People’s Republic of China to travel to the U.S. destination without a visa under specified conditions. Before the pandemic, China comprised about 44% of visitors to the Marianas, with direct flights from multiple mainland cities. The stability of EVS-TAP is seen by many stakeholders as essential to the full revival of the market.
Other markets
Direct service is also provided from Guam daily by United Airlines and from Manila twice weekly by Philippine Airlines. Additional visitor arrivals in April included:
Guam: 544 visitors
United States: 1,130 visitors
Other Markets (Combined): 247 visitors
The U.S. market was the only source market that was not significantly impacted during this period. Although arrivals declined — in part due to two U.S. military ship arrivals in April 2025 compared to none in April 2026, the reduction was considerably less severe than in other markets. This was primarily due to the arrival of rescue and relief workers, utility crews, and representatives from various organizations assisting with post-typhoon response and recovery efforts.
