The Marianas Visitors Authority is deeply concerned by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s decision to suspend the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program (EVS-TAP).

The security of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and our nation must always be protected. National security and economic security go hand in hand. In Fiscal Year 2026, visitors from China accounted for more than 20 percent of total arrivals to the Marianas, representing more than one out of every five visitors.

The suspension could also affect our already limited airline service. Chinese visitors travel to the Marianas not only through Hong Kong Airlines flights but also through connecting flights via Seoul, South Korea. Approximately 30 percent of Chinese visitors arrive in the Marianas through Seoul. This means that the suspension could affect passenger demand on both Hong Kong Airlines and our existing flights from South Korea. With fewer passengers, airlines may find it increasingly difficult to sustain their current flight schedules or consider expanding services. The potential impact goes beyond the Chinese market, as reduced air connectivity could also affect Korean visitors and other international travelers who rely on these routes.

Suspending EVS-TAP without a viable replacement will be devastating at a time when we have only a fraction of the airline seats, visitors, and marketing resources we had when our tourism economy was healthy. Based on revenue generation today, government employees are down to 26.5 hours per workweek, schools are open only four days a week, and people are losing their jobs. EVS-TAP is a critical tool for the health of our economy and community.

Since the implementation of EVS-TAP in 2025, the Department of Homeland Security has had full oversight of the admission of legitimate visitors into the CNMI under the program. Some of the concerns cited in the suspension announcement predate EVS-TAP.

The Covenant commits the United States to assist the Commonwealth in achieving ‘a progressively higher standard of living’ and developing the economic resources needed to meet the financial responsibilities of local self-government. Tourism is the primary economic driver of our economy. We are not asking the federal government to ignore legitimate concerns. We are ready to work with our federal partners on solutions that protect both our national security and the economic future of the people of the Marianas.