Koreans rushing to the Northern Mariana Islands

Thursday, September 22, 2022

In August, the Northern Mariana Islands had experienced a huge rush of visitors as the lifting of the restrictions related to travel has led to more foreign flights.

Almost, 10,000 visitors arrived in the islands, compared to 551 visitors in the same time last year.

From South Korea, almost 8,100 tourists had poured in from only 94 in the same month a year before.

Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific correspondent, stated that the surge of Korean tourists was because of China closing down its borders.

Mark said that China was their number one market and as the country shut itself down due to COVID-19, therefore, Korea was their second market.

Also, the Northern Marianas in Aug 2022 received 148 visitors from Japan compared to only one visitor in August last year.

Rabago also mentioned that for the Japanese yen, the currency exchange is expected to go up and businesses in 2023, are expecting more tourists. From this month of Sep, Japanese tourists are expected to increase with three weekly flights from the Narita Airport in Tokyo to Saipan by United Airlines beginning on September 1st, under incentives provided by the TRIP program.

The program will carry on for a preliminary six months as the local tourist body and tourism partners work to make the Japan market steady.

The market faces two challenges, like Japan’s seventh wave of rise in covid cases, resulting in travel anxiety, and a weak Japanese yen.

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