Arrivals from top NMI markets drop

Due to reduced airline seats capacity, visitor arrivals from the top three tourism markets of the Northern Marianas declined last month, compared with the same month last year.

Arrivals from Japan fell by 2.28 percent, from 32,037 visitors in July 2004 to 31,306 in July 2005.

The Marianas Visitors Authority attributed this to the continuing impact of the decline in airline seats capacity from the Kanto region, the largest market segment covering areas such as Tokyo, Narita, and Chiba.

Kanto recorded a decline of 13 percent in arrivals in July 2005, compared with July 2004. The situation is expected to worsen when Japan Airlines ceases to operate its regular, scheduled flights to Saipan effective Oct. 4.

The Kinki region, the second largest market, registered a total of 7,159 visitor arrivals last month, 25 percent higher than in the same month in 2004.

MVA statistics also show that Japan’s market share dipped to 68 percent of the total arrivals in July 2005, from the normal 70 to 71 percent.

Arrivals from the Korea market reached only 6,661 visitors last month, an 8.73 percent decrease from July 2004.

Likewise, China arrivals posted a 23-percent decline, from 3,742 in July 2004 to 2,882 last month.

MVA said that, similar to the case of the Japan market, airline seats capacity was a major factor in the reduced arrivals from Korea and China.

For the Korea market, airline seats capacity reduced by 26.5 percent compared to July 2004. The decline in the China market was attributed to the termination of direct flights from Beijing, China. This flight came in tWICE a week in July 2004.

The United States and Guam markets reported the largest increase to the Northern Marianas for the month of July 2005.

The CNMI welcomed a total of 1,921 visitors from the United States last month, a 71-percent growth compared with July 2004. Three military ships that called on the Port of Saipan brought in a total of 1,188 crewmembers, or 62 percent of the total arrivals from the United States.

Guam arrivals reached 2,026 visitors, a growth of 21 percent compared with July 2004. About one third of the visitors from Guam entered the Commonwealth via Rota and the remaining via Saipan. Arrivals from Guam continue to be driven by business travelers.

Although their arrival numbers are minimal, Taiwan and Hong Kong continued to show tremendous growth of 332 percent and 54 percent respectively compared with arrivals reported in July 2004. Arrivals from Taiwan and Hong Kong total 294 and 297 visitors respectively.

For the month of July 2005, overall arrivals reported a total of 46,107 visitors, a decline of 2.81 percent compared with the same month in 2004.