Visitor arrival numbers tell their own story around the islands

Visitor arrival numbers tell their own story around the islands, as the hoped-for rebound in tourism numbers is taking its time to happen.

Total visitor arrivals for Guam in March (the latest posted figures from the Guam Visitors Bureau) stood at 146,332 - down 53.7% from 2019.

The Korean market delivered 32,670 visitors, with 22,343 visitors from Japan, and 1,962 from Taiwan, despite the lack of direct flights. U.S. and Hawaii numbers are more robust at 6,864. It’s early days to see how the Haneda flight impacts inbound travel from Japan, with school vacations ahead in July and August in the country.

Guam hotel occupancy taxes garnered $4.45 million in the last quarter of 2023.

The Marianas Visitors Authority said arrivals to Saipan, Tinian and Rota were at 19,595 visitors in April, which was 49% lower than April 2019, when arrivals reached 39,663 visitors.

(From left) Leo Tudela, executive director, Commonwealth Ports Authority; Hong Kong Airlines chair Jianfeng Jeff Sun, chairman of Hong Kong Airlines; Lt. Gov. David M. Atapang; Gloria C. Cavanagh, chairperson of the board of the Marianas Visitors Authority; and Christopher Concepcion, managing director of MVA. Photo from Journal files

Arrivals from South Korea registered 14,433 in April, with 542 visitors from Japan. The Northern Mariana Islands received 986 visitors from Guam and 1,672 from the U.S. mainland in April. China arrivals reached 1,450.

United Airlines adjusted its Tokyo flight times from May 7, which may increase travel between the two destinations. “With MVA’s continued emphasis on The Marianas as a multi-island destination, several travel agencies have stepped up their promotion of Rota and Tinian,” MVA said.

As of the end of April, Hong Kong Airlines is operating flights twice a week from Hong Kong using Airbus A330 aircraft with 292 seats.

Palau saw 4,592 visitors in March (the latest figures available), with 1,193 coming from China, and 940 coming from the U.S./Canada markets and 81 from Taiwan.

The positive for Palau is a non-stop flight between Koror and Brisbane named the Palau Paradise Express, which will will initially be operated by Nauru Airlines, according to Journal files.

Nauru Airlines will operate the flight until Oct. 31. “Eligible Australian, Pacific, and Asian airlines will be invited to participate in a limited tender to operate the route through October 2025,” according to a joint release from the Office of the President of Palau and the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Taiwan visitors tend to stay in Palau for an average four or five nights, with Korean and Chinese visitors staying seven and eight nights respectively. The Europe market drew 328 visitors in March, with tourists from that market staying in Palau for an enviable average of nine nights. mbj

Visitor arrival numbers tell their own story around the islands