(Marianas Visitors Authority) — Arrivals Saipan, Tinian and Rota grew 60% to 19,213 visitors in March 2024, compared to 12,005 visitors received in March 2023. Monthly arrivals were 46% lower compared to pre-pandemic levels of March 2019, when arrivals reached 35,295 visitors.
Visitor arrivals from South Korea registered 14,403 in March 2024, 54% higher than March 2023. Direct flight service is provided to Saipan from Seoul by T’way, Asiana Airlines, and Jeju Air. The monthly average airline load factor — or percentage of seats sold — has been above 90% since January, reaching 91% in March for regular flights. Saipan Marathon on March 9 was also a draw for visitors, with 22% of registrants from South Korea.
For the second time since the pandemic, visitor arrivals from Japan broke the 1,000 mark, registering 1,470 arrivals in March 2024 compared to 471 visitors in March 2023. Over 680 Japanese arrived on the cruise ship M/S Asuka. As the Japanese yen is weaker against most foreign currencies, domestic travel remains a popular choice. The strong U.S. dollar and weaker Japanese yen and Korean won continue to influence travelers from those countries to choose non- U.S. destinations at this time.
China arrivals in March 2024 reached 1,222 compared to 58 arrivals in March 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. Most visitors from China are now independent travelers transiting via Seoul and Tokyo to the Marianas, although Hong Kong Airlines will commence twice weekly direct flights from Hong Kong to Saipan on April 28, 2024. This will mark the airline’s first flights to the Marianas since the Covid-19 pandemic.
In March 2024, the Marianas also received 815 visitors from Guam, 809 visitors from the United States, and a combined 494 visitors from all other markets.
