Visitor arrivals to the Northern Mariana Islands plunged in April, falling 72% compared with a year earlier as Super Typhoon Sinlaku disrupted travel and airport operations, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority.
The destination recorded 3,277 arrivals in April 2026, down sharply from 11,880 visitors in April 2025.
Tourism officials attributed the steep decline to the mid-April typhoon, which forced a temporary suspension of international nighttime flights at Francisco C. Ada Saipan International Airport while repairs are completed.
The slowdown underscores ongoing challenges in the Marianas’ tourism recovery, which has also been hindered by currency disadvantages, rising fuel costs, airline route decisions, increased competition from other destinations, and geopolitical tensions affecting key markets such as China.
South Korea remained the top source market despite significant losses, with arrivals dropping 90% to 740 visitors. The Japan market declined 75% to 225 visitors, while arrivals from China fell 50% to 391.
Air service restorations are expected in the coming months. Jeju Air has opened bookings for Seoul-Saipan flights scheduled to resume June 20, while United Airlines plans to restart three weekly Tokyo-Narita flights on Aug. 2. Hong Kong Airlines is targeting a July return to Saipan, pending confirmation.
The U.S. market was less affected than others, with 1,130 visitors recorded in April. Officials said arrivals included relief workers, utility crews and other personnel assisting with recovery efforts following the typhoon.
Additional April arrivals included 544 visitors from Guam and 247 from other markets.
Tourism stakeholders are looking to the summer months for signs of recovery as flight operations gradually resume and infrastructure repairs progress.
