Philippine Airlines will resume twice-weekly service to Saipan on March 29, a move expected to increase tourism access to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and potentially attract more Chinese travelers.
Increased Access for Travelers
The Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) anticipates the new route will not only benefit the Philippines market but also serve as an additional transit point for Chinese tourists, who currently rely heavily on flights through Hong Kong and Incheon. Currently, Hong Kong Airlines operates only twice-weekly flights to the CNMI, limiting accessibility.
“Having an additional two times a week from PAL will increase the access for Chinese travellers, but also for everybody,” said MVA Managing Director Jamila Taijeron.
Addressing Scheduling Concerns
The MVA is working with stakeholders to mitigate potential challenges posed by the early morning departure time from Manila, which could be inconvenient for Chinese tourists. Efforts are underway to improve connectivity and address scheduling issues.
Focus on Key Markets & Financial Challenges
Alongside the resumption of Philippine Airlines service, the MVA is prioritizing promotional efforts towards the Korean market, currently the CNMI’s largest source of visitors. Charter flights through E-Land partners T’Way Air and Busan Air are scheduled for January and February, adding approximately four flights per week during peak season.
Despite positive developments in airlift capacity, the MVA is facing financial constraints due to declining hotel occupancy tax revenues and lower visitor numbers. Taijeron highlighted the importance of tourism to the CNMI’s economy, stating, “Tourism is our only economy, and we need to support it.”
The MVA plans to discuss potential budget amendments or supplemental funding with Gov. David M. Apatang and the Legislature to align spending with available resources.
Viability of the Route & Future Outlook
During a recent MVA meeting, board director Chris Nelson questioned the business case for the Manila-Saipan service, citing a previous unsuccessful attempt and the CNMI’s current economic conditions. MVA board chair Warren F. Villagomez suggested inviting a representative from Philippine Airlines to the next board meeting to provide further details on their initiatives.
Visitor arrivals in November totaled 8,618, a 29.7 percent decrease year-over-year, primarily due to reduced airline seat capacity. Japan arrivals more than doubled due to group travel, while Korea arrivals decreased by 42 percent. China showed signs of gradual recovery.
The MVA projects approximately 148,000 visitors for the 2026 financial year, a 2 percent increase from its previous forecast, but still below the 160,000 arrivals recorded last year. This outlook incorporates added service from Hong Kong Airlines and Philippine Airlines, offset by changes to Jeju Air’s flight schedule.
“Without flights, we simply cannot increase visitor arrivals,” Taijeron said. “Once we get the flights, we’re confident we can build the market and bring visitors back.”
The board also approved updates to MVA policies to comply with Public Law 24-18, increasing paid military leave for government employees, and approved the rescission and reissuance of a request for proposals for improvements at Marpi tourist sites.
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