(MVA) — The Marianas Visitors Authority reports that visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 8,618 in November 2025, a 30% decrease compared to 12,254 visitors in November 2024.
The destination continues to wrestle with a drastic reduction in air seat capacity over the last seven years, dropping from approximately 760,000 air seats in FY 2018 to 250,000 in FY 2025, a 67% overall loss. This includes a 60% loss of air seats from the top source market of Korea over the period, largely due to airline strategic decisions, currency disadvantages, and fierce destination competition. Air seats are also reduced compared to pre-pandemic levels after a complete loss of flights from mainland China — once another top source market for the Marianas — under geopolitical changes with the U.S.
South Korea
South Korea remained the destination’s top visitor source market, with 5,112 arrivals in November 2025, a 42% decline from November 2024. The Marianas received 37 flights from Seoul in November 2025 compared to 60 flights last November. Flight operations have been unstable, with lone air carriers Jeju Air and T’way Air frequently suspending or reducing flights over the last year. Seasonal charters will help buoy the marketing during the winter season. Air Busan will operate twice weekly charter flights from Busan to Saipan from Jan. 7 to Feb.28. In addition, T’way Air will operate twice weekly charters from Incheon to Saipan from Jan. 2 to Feb. 22.
Japan
Visitor arrivals from Japan reached 989 arrivals in November 2025 compared to 479 in November 2024, a 107% increase and the fourth consecutive month of growth from the market. United Airlines operates direct flights from Tokyo Narita to Saipan three times weekly and began a more favorable flight schedule beginning Oct. 25. The MVA is targeting young, first-time Japanese travelers, mid-senior repeat travelers interested in golf and diving, and sports enthusiasts. Following a business meeting with JTB in Saipan in August, JTB’s individual sales division is now selling Marianas travel packages again, and a large student group visited Saipan in November. More group travel is expected in the coming year.
China
Arrivals from China reached 765 in November compared to 800 arrivals a year ago, a 4% decrease compared to last year. The load factor, or percentage of seats sold, on Hong Kong Airlines’ twice weekly direct flights from Hong Kong to Saipan remains healthy, and the market is anticipated to recover in FY 2026 provided that the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program continues without further interruption as experienced earlier this year. EVS-TAP is 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. Hong Kong Airlines is anticipated to double its flight service in Summer 2026. Before the Covid-19 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
Additional visitor arrivals in November 2025 included:
Guam: 987 visitors
United States: 491 visitors
Other markets (Combined): 274 visitors
Philippine Airlines will commence direct Manila-Saipan twice weekly beginning on March 29, 2026.
