Korea arrivals show first growth in 6 months

After six consecutive months of decline, arrivals from Korea posted a double-digit growth of 23 percent with a total of 6,492 visitors in December 2004 compared with December 2003.

Several positive factors took placed in December that contributed to the growth in arrivals from Korea. First, a group tour sponsored by iTour group, consisting of 1,000 visitors, arrived for their company’s annual incentive trip.

Secondly, to stimulate interest from the Korea travel agents and increase their tour sales to the CNMI, the MVA Korea office and Asiana Airlines coordinated a Volume Incentive Program. Travel agents were rewarded for exceptional sales based on monthly sales quota.

Finally, to accommodate the high travel demand, Asiana Airlines brought in three flights per week, which began on Dec. 17, 2004, in addition to its daily flights from Korea.

Arrivals from the rest of the Asian countries showed positive performances with the exception of Japan. Visitor arrivals from Japan dropped 2 percent in December 2004 compared with December 2003. This was attributed to the decline in seats capacity from Tokyo, Japan. For the month, seats capacity from Tokyo was reduced by 17 percent, compared with December 2003. The decline was caused by the change in aircraft from Japan Airlines’ flight from Tokyo and the termination of Continental’s direct flight from Nagoya, Japan. There were two cruise ships from Japan that visited the CNMI, bringing in a total of 1,013 cruise passengers.

Taiwan was the top market performer with the highest growth rate of 708 percent when compared with December 2003. Hong Kong also recorded tremendous growth in arrivals for the month of December. Arrivals from this market totaled 330 visitors—a 60-percent increase compared with December 2003. The China market continues to show growth in arrivals. For the month of December 2004, arrivals registered 2,803 visitors, a 54-percent increase compared with the same month the previous year. The growth from these markets was boosted with the resumption of Continental Airlines’ direct flights from Hong Kong and Taiwan and additional flights from China.

“We are extremely pleased to see a positive growth from our Korean market and other Asian travel markets. Promotional strategies in these markets have been expanded to augment public relation activities,” said MVA managing director Vicky Benavente. (PR)