Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — The Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) reports that visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 14,922 in December 2025, a 24% decrease compared to 19,598 visitors in December 2024.
The destination continues to wrestle with a drastic reduction in air seat capacity over the last seven years, dropping from approximately 760,000 air seats in FY 2018 to 250,000 in FY 2025, a 67% overall loss. This includes a 60% loss of air seats from the top source market of Korea over the period, largely due to airline strategic decisions, currency disadvantages, and fierce destination competition. Air seats are also reduced compared to pre-pandemic levels after a complete loss of flights from mainland China – once another top source market for The Marianas - under geopolitical changes with the U.S.
South Korea
South Korea remained the destination’s top visitor source market, with 8,577 arrivals in December 2025, a 40% decline from December 2024. The Marianas received 60 flights from Seoul in December 2025 compared to 88 flights last December. Flight operations have been unstable, with lone air carriers Jeju Air and T’way Air frequently suspending or reducing flights over the last year and a half. Seasonal charters are helping to buoy the marketing during the winter season, with Air Busan operating twice weekly charter flights from Busan to Saipan and T’way Air operating twice weekly charters from Seoul Incheon to Saipan through Feb. 28.
Japan Market
Visitor arrivals from Japan reached 2,171 arrivals in December 2025 compared to 1,886 in December 2024, a 15% increase and the fifth consecutive month of growth from the market. United Airlines operates direct flights from Tokyo Narita to Saipan three times weekly. The MVA is targeting young, first-time Japanese travellers, mid-senior repeat travellers interested in golf and diving, and sports enthusiasts. Following a business meeting between MVA and JTB - Japan’s largest travel agency - in August, JTB has been selling Marianas travel packages again, targeting both individuals and groups, with a group of 200 visitors expected in February 2026.. The Port of Saipan also received nearly 1,000 visitors aboard two cruise ships in December, predominantly Japanese citizens.
China Market
Arrivals from China reached 1,423 in December compared to 1,143 arrivals a year ago, a 25% increase compared to last year. The load factor, or percentage of seats sold, on Hong Kong Airlines’ twice weekly direct flights from Hong Kong to Saipan remains healthy, and the market is anticipated to recover in FY 2026 provided that the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP) continues without further interruption as experienced earlier this year. EVS-TAP is a restricted sub-program of the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program that allows prescreened nationals of the People's Republic of China to travel to the U.S. destination without a visa under specified conditions. Hong Kong Airlines is anticipated to double its flight service in May 2026. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, China comprised about 44% of visitors to the Marianas, with direct flights from multiple mainland cities. The stability of EVS-TAP is seen by many stakeholders as essential to the full revival of the market.
Other Markets
Additional visitor arrivals in December 2025 included:
- Guam: 808 visitors
- United States: 1,412 visitors
- Other Markets (Combined): 531 visitors
Philippine Airlines will commence twice weekly direct Manila-Saipan flights on March 29, 2026
