Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — The Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) reports that visitor arrivals to the Marianas totaled 5,001 in August 2026 as leisure travel continued to recover and international flight service from key source markets was restored following Super Typhoon Sinlaku in April.
August arrivals remained 61% below the 12,690 visitors recorded in August 2025, reflecting the continued impact of reduced air capacity. However, the month saw continued recovery in ongoing air access from South Korea and Hong Kong, the return of direct Tokyo-Saipan service, and continued growth from the China market.
South Korea
Visitor arrivals from South Korea totaled 1,538 in August 2026 compared to 8,364 arrivals in August 2025, reflecting significantly reduced air capacity compared to the previous year.
In August 2025, the destination had daily service by T’way Air through Aug. 18 and twice-daily service by Jeju Air. Following Super Typhoon Sinlaku Jeju Air resumed direct Seoul-Saipan service on June 20 and is currently operating four weekly flights, with service scheduled to continue through March 2027.
The continued operation of direct service from Seoul provides an important foundation for rebuilding visitor demand from the Marianas’ leading source market.
Japan Market
Visitor arrivals from Japan were 288 in August 2026 compared to 919 in August 2025. United Airlines resumed three weekly direct flights between Tokyo Narita and Saipan on August 2, restoring direct air access from Japan.
In August, the MVA participated in the JTB Overseas Travel Expo, an internal B2B event featuring 145 exhibitors and attended by approximately 2,000 JTB staff members. JTB is Japan’s largest travel company. The MVA booth was attended by 30% more visitors than last year, with many expressing strong interest and inquiring about incentive travel, school trips, and English-language educational programs in the Marianas.
JTB’s July-September promotion generated bookings for 119 travelers for departures from August through March, including 17 travelers in August. Activities included website and social media advertising, sales-office promotional materials, and local benefits through TASI Tours.
The MVA once again supported the participation of the Marianas delegation in the Nippon Domannaka Festival, one of the largest team and cultural dance festivals in the Chubu region of Japan. Also, young dancers from the Saipan Awa Odori Team promoted the Marianas to nearly 900 passengers aboard the ASUKA II Awa Odori Cruise, where they taught the dance to guests during the cruise from Aug. 9-14 . The cruise stopped at Tokushima, the birthplace of Awa Odori.
China Market
Arrivals from China recorded a second consecutive month of triple-digit growth, increasing 170% to 1,605 visitors compared to 594 arrivals last year, following the resumption of Hong Kong Airlines’ Hong Kong-Saipan service on July 12.
Hong Kong Airlines flights were suspended during the same period last year following the temporary suspension of processing under the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP), administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
In August, charter flight companies Century Tours and LTT supported the market through digital advertising and short-video content across Chinese social media and travel platforms, flight-and-hotel packages, and limited-time airfare offers.
Before the pandemic, visitor arrivals from China comprised about 44% of total visitor arrivals to the Marianas, highlighting the market’s importance to the destination’s tourism recovery.
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 CNMI without a visa under specified conditions.
Other Markets
Additional visitor arrivals in August included:
- United States: 783 visitors
- Guam: 518 visitors
- Other Markets (Combined): 269 visitors
Direct daily flights from Guam are operated by United Airlines. Philippine Airlines has announced plans to resume direct Manila-Saipan service on Oct. 25, 2026.
The continued restoration of air service across key source markets provides an important foundation for rebuilding visitor arrivals and strengthening the Marianas’ tourism recovery.
