(Marianas Visitors Authority) — Arrivals to Saipan, Tinian and Rota grew 9% to 18,680 visitors in May 2024, compared to 17,117 visitors received in May 2023. However, monthly arrivals were 51% lower compared to pre-pandemic levels of May 2019, when arrivals reached 38,262 visitors.
Visitor arrivals from South Korea registered 13,378 in May, 4% lower than May 2023. While year-to-date visitor arrivals from South Korea have recovered to 20% compared to FY 2019 before the pandemic, the small percentage decline in May is largely due to an extra high number of arrivals last May, when pent-up travel demand after the pandemic had created a surge of outbound travel from Korea. Direct flight service is provided to Saipan from Seoul by Jeju Air and T’Way, as well as Asiana Airlines, which will be closing its Saipan office at the end of this month. During the peak summer season, Jeju Air will add an additional flight from July 17 to August 18 to capture demand during high peak summer season, making three daily flights on the Incheon-Saipan route by Jeju and one daily flight by T’Way. Visitors from Korea comprise 76% of all arrivals to the Marianas.
Visitor arrivals from Japan registered 859 in May 2024 compared to 649 visitors in May 2023, a 32% increase. United Airlines flies three times weekly from Tokyo-Narita to Saipan. Beginning May 7, United started a new, more convenient flight schedule, which has helped nudge up arrivals. However, the strong U.S. dollar and weaker Japanese yen continue to influence travelers to choose non-U.S. or domestic destinations at this time.
With the advent in late April of twice weekly direct flights from Hong Kong to Saipan via Hong Kong Airlines, China has marked its highest monthly arrivals since before the pandemic when direct flights were halted. China arrivals in May 2024 reached 2,061 compared to 392 arrivals in May 2023. Prior to the pandemic, China was the second largest source market of visitors to the Marianas with multiple direct flights a week from five cities.
In March, the Marianas also received 1,096 visitors from Guam, 754 visitors from the United States, and a combined 532 visitors from all other markets.
