THE Marianas Visitors Authority reports that visitor arrivals to The Marianas totaled 14,365 in July 2025, a 33% decrease compared to 21,517 visitors received in July 2024. So far this fiscal year, visitor arrivals are 30% lower than over the same period last year.
Air seat capacity to The Marianas has plunged from approximately 760,000 in FY 2018 to just 260,000 projected for FY 2025 — a 66% overall loss, including 59% from Korea and a 100% loss from mainland China, once The Marianas’ second-largest source market. The tourism office is urging immediate financial and policy intervention by the Commonwealth government to address flight instability that is stymying efforts to revive tourism.
South Korea
As the leading visitor source market, South Korea registered 11,015 arrivals in July 2025, a 31% decline from 15,978 visitors in July 2024. The Marianas received 74 flights from Korea in July 2025 compared to 108 flights last year. Jeju Air’s twice daily flights —which had been reduced to once a day beginning March 30 — resumed on July 12 for peak summer season. T’way Air had 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.
Jeju Air will suspend its night flight from Sept. 8 to 30 due to low ticket sales and fares. The airline is also considering suspending flights from Oct. 12 to 25, though that decision has not yet been finalized. T’way has suspended its service for several periods in the coming months: Aug. 18 to Sept. 28, Oct. 14 to Nov. 22, and March 15 to 31, 2026. MVA Board Chairman Warren Villagomez and Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron met current and potential airline partners earlier this month in Korea to seek ways to stabilize air service to The Marianas.
Japan
Visitor arrivals from Japan reached 534 arrivals in July 2025 compared to 647 in July 2024. 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. As part of its Marianas Revival Project aimed at rebuilding ties of government, business, tourism, cultural exchange, and community with Japan, Taijeron was part of The Marianas delegation to Japan this month to join the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony on Aug. 6. She also met with Nenpou Shinkyu Buddhist Denomination in Osaka to discussed continued cultural exchange. The religious group had constructed peace memorials at Banzai Cliff in Saipan and resumed their memorial ceremonies in The Marianas this year for the first time since the pandemic. The JTB-MVA Marianas Tourism Business Development plan — also part of the Marianas Revival Project — was held on Aug. 21, 2025, in Saipan.
China
Arrivals from China reached 190 in July compared to 2,037 arrivals a year ago. In mid-July U.S. Customs and Border Protection resumed processing travelers’ applications under the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program or EVS-TAP, 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 destination without a visa under specified conditions. With the reinstatement of processing, Hong Kong Airlines is anticipated to resume twice weekly flights to Saipan beginning on Sept. 21. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, China comprised about 40% of The Marianas’ visitors, with direct flights from multiple cities.
Other markets
Additional visitor arrivals in July 2025 included:
Guam: 1,023 visitors
United States: 1,237 visitors
Other markets (combined): 366 visitors
Factors affecting air service
Currency exchange: The strong U.S. dollar against the Japanese yen and Korean won makes other non-U.S. destinations more affordable and appealing.
Airline priorities: Airlines achieve higher profits operating multiple short-haul routes within Asia rather than a longer flight to Saipan.
Oversupply to Guam: Korean Air–Asiana merger mandates have diverted demand away from Saipan and destabilized the market.
Industry shortages: Global aircraft delivery delays, particularly with Boeing, are limiting availability across all carriers.
Carrier exits: Asiana Airlines exited the Saipan market in Summer 2024 during its merger with Korean Air.
MVA is seeking a $10 million budget in FY 2026 to initiate a three-year, stop-gap plan to re-establish stable air service to the destination and increase consumer demand with enhancements to products and services focused on global travel trends of sustainability, wellness/health, learning, and regenerative tourism. MVA is also exploring its eligibility for funding opportunities through the U.S. Department of Transportation to address the urgent need for flight stabilization.
