Marianas Visitor Authority

Gov. David M. Apatang has ordered the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture to be transferred from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs to the Marianas Visitors Authority, citing the need for more efficient administration and stronger alignment between cultural preservation and tourism.

While international flights have begun returning to the Northern Marianas Islands, tourism numbers remain far below normal levels, with June visitor arrivals falling 81% year over year following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku

Arguing that the CNMI cannot promote itself without elevating its cultural identity, House Floor Leader Marissa Flores is calling for the Arts Council to be moved under the Marianas Visitors Authority.

Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron is resigning effective May 31, telling reporters Wednesday that her family’s relocation to Guam and a year of unprecedented challenges shaped her decision to leave the agency.

The Marianas Visitors Authority has recently launched a global branding strategy aimed at redefining the islands’ identity for international travelers.

CNMI tourism stakeholders are preparing a formal petition to South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission seeking an exemption that would allow Korean Air and its affiliates to count Korea–Saipan flights toward their required seat quota on the Korea–Guam route

The Northern Mariana Islands’ tourism sector remains under pressure as aggressive air service expansion in Guam diverts demand from Saipan, contributing to a record-low hotel occupancy rate of 31.08% in August 2025.