Tourism and business leaders are urging the federal government to restore a key travel authorization program for Chinese visitors, warning that its suspension could undermine the Commonwealth's fragile economic recovery just as visitor arrivals show signs of improvement.
The Marianas Visitors Authority, the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce this week voiced concern over the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's decision to suspend the CNMI Economic Vitality and Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP, effective Oct. 30. The program allows eligible, pre-screened Chinese nationals to travel to the CNMI without obtaining a U.S. visa.
DHS said the suspension is based on national security and immigration-enforcement concerns, citing alleged vulnerabilities involving travel by Chinese nationals, including overstays, illegal employment and other abuses of federal immigration programs.
Local tourism leaders argue the program has become an essential economic lifeline for the CNMI and contend that many incidents cited by DHS predate EVS-TAP's implementation in 2025.
The debate comes as the CNMI continues to struggle with a slow tourism recovery following Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Industry leaders say the loss of EVS-TAP could reduce passenger demand on international routes linking Saipan with Hong Kong and South Korea, threatening already limited airline service and the broader visitor economy.
MVA Acting Board Chair Vicky Benavente said Chinese visitors accounted for more than 20% of total arrivals during fiscal 2026.
"The security of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and our nation must always be protected," Benavente said. "National security and economic security go hand in hand."
HANMI Chairman Ivan Quichocho described the suspension as "devastating" for hotels and tourism businesses already dealing with reduced visitor arrivals, limited airline capacity and rising costs. He said Chinese visitors make up a significant share of passengers traveling on routes connecting the CNMI with Hong Kong and South Korea and warned that losing those travelers could weaken the viability of flights serving multiple markets.
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce similarly cautioned that the economic effects would extend far beyond the tourism industry, affecting restaurants, retailers, transportation providers, tax collections and public services. The chamber called on DHS to work with CNMI leaders to identify additional safeguards rather than eliminating the program altogether.
The concerns come as MVA reported modest improvement in visitor arrivals. The CNMI welcomed 5,051 visitors in September, slightly higher than August's total.
China became the CNMI's largest source market during the month, posting 1,328 arrivals, a 95% increase from 680 visitors in September 2025. For fiscal 2026, arrivals from China rose 20% compared with the previous fiscal year.
Overall arrivals, however, remain well below previous levels. September's total was down 30% from the 7,266 visitors recorded a year earlier, while fiscal 2026 arrivals fell 38% to 99,476 from 160,640 in fiscal 2025.
South Korea generated 1,137 arrivals in September, followed by the United States with 1,239 visitors, Japan with 444, Guam with 618 and other markets with 285.
MVA said rebuilding airline capacity remains critical to recovery. Jeju Air currently operates four weekly flights between Seoul and Saipan, United Airlines maintains service from Tokyo and Guam, and Philippine Airlines recently resumed nonstop Manila-Saipan flights.
Tourism officials say restoring EVS-TAP could prove equally important as the CNMI works to rebuild visitor numbers, preserve international air links and support an economy still heavily dependent on tourism.
