Influx of tourists expected next month

The CNMI can expect an influx of visitors next month, with the number of flights from Korea increasing and more cruise ships passing by Saipan for a port call.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, Jeju Airlines is expected increase its number of flights from Korea to Saipan. It was learned that Jeju Air will launch 10 additional flights from Feb. 7 through Feb. 16.

The flight will be using a B737 aircraft with a 189-seat capacity per flight. That’s over 1,800 possible visitors to Saipan next month.

Currently, Jeju Air provides two daily flights from Seoul, Korea to Saipan.

In a statement from Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion, he said the announcement of additional flights from Korea is in response to the demand for travel to the CNMI, thanks to MVA’s efforts to market the CNMI as a destination for Korean travelers.

“The MVA is very pleased with the announcement by Jeju Air of the launch of 10 additional flights from Seoul to Saipan during the Lunar New Year period. These flights will take place from Feb. 7 to 16, giving us an additional 1,890 seats during this high peak period. This is in addition to the twice daily flights Jeju currently operates on this route,” he added.

Jeju Air is currently the largest air carrier operating between the Marianas and Korea.

Concepcion said the MVA has been working very closely with its headquarters in Seoul, along with key travel agencies, to promote the Marianas in Korea “and it’s paying off.”

“[Jeju Air] saw the demand and responded to it by adding flights, so we are grateful for their partnership and support of our tourism industry,” said Concepcion.

Meanwhile, additional cruise ships have already confirmed they will be making port calls on Saipan next month and possibly in March. This is expected to bring yet another boost in the number of visitors coming to the CNMI, as seen when the MSC Bellissima from Japan made a port call last Thursday. It brought in over 3,000 visitors to Saipan for one day.

Concepcion said both the increase in the number of flights and the incoming port calls come at a crucial time as the tourism industry’s low season usually begins around March.

“With the expected increase in arrivals during the Lunar New Year period next month, tourism industry stakeholders are eager to see an additional influx of visitors to our islands. This comes at a crucial time in the year when we expect low season to kick in toward March and April. The 10 additional flights by Jeju Air from Seoul plus the cruise ships scheduled to dock [on] Saipan next month are welcome news for the industry. We need a solid third source market to eventually stabilize our industry, with Korea being very dominant and Japan being very weak. We are hopeful for a brighter future,” said Concepcion.