{"id":410360,"date":"2024-06-21T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=410360"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"CNMI-on-track-to-exceed-last-fiscal-year-s-number-of-arrivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/CNMI-on-track-to-exceed-last-fiscal-year-s-number-of-arrivals\/","title":{"rendered":"CNMI on track to exceed last fiscal year’s number of arrivals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Marianas Visitors Authority says based off of the number of tourist arrivals seen as of May, the CNMI is on track to exceed the number of visitor arrivals seen last fiscal year.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, during MVA\u2019s general membership meeting held at the Saipan World Resort, MVA managing director Chris Concepcion shared that as of May, the CNMI has seen over 160,000 visitor arrivals.<\/p>\n

This puts the CNMI on track to exceed the number of arrivals seen last fiscal year which was around 194,700.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs of May, [the CNMI\u2019s seen] 160,151 visitors so far for this fiscal year. We are on track to exceed last fiscal year but still 61% lower than before Super Typhoon Yutu and 37% lower than before the pandemic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Concepcion shared that Korea makes up most of the CNMI\u2019s visitor arrivals.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are seeing a solid performance from our Korea market but countered by strong challenges in our other source markets. Korea comprised almost half of all arrivals before Super Typhoon Yutu and the pandemic. Today, Korea represents 76% of all our visitors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As for the rest of the market, Japan and China hold a small share.<\/p>\n

\u201cJapan is about the same market share before the typhoon and the pandemic. We expect Japan numbers to grow slowly but the extremely unfavorable exchange rates, their stagnant economy, and their shift toward domestic travel are really slowing recovery. Arrivals from China were about equal to Korea but are now only 6% of our market share,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, Concepcion said the China market is expected to grow as Hong Kong Airlines\u2019 twice-weekly flights continues.<\/p>\n

\u201cHong Kong Airlines started twice-weekly flights to Saipan last April which is great news. Marketing of those flights are being led by our private sector partners as MVA hasn\u2019t had an office in China since COVID. There is incremental growth anticipated from China with these flights from Hong Kong but we just don\u2019t have the same number of direct flights as we had before the pandemic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Regarding the development of a strong, third source market, Concepcion said MVA has explored Taiwan, Australia, and Singapore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe attended meeting, trade shows, expos, road shows to reintroduce the Marianas to airlines, tour operators, travel agencies who might be interested in doing business here. We will continue this effort, but we must note that once committed partners are identified, it will take time and a lot of money to open a new market that is not yet familiar with the Marianas,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

On a positive note, Concepcion said the CNMI is seeing more traction in destination enhancement, which in turn makes for better visitors experience.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Marianas Visitors Authority held its biannual general membership meeting last Thursday at the Saipan World Resort.<\/p>\n

-KIMBERLY B. ESMORES
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