MVA eyes China access via PAL as Korea market gets funding boost

The return of Philippine Airlines’ Manila-Saipan service next year is expected to help broaden access to the CNMI and could bring more Chinese tourists to the islands, according to Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Jamila Taijeron.

Philippine Airlines is set to resume twice-weekly flights beginning March 29, marking the Philippine flag carrier’s return to the Marianas after several years.

Taijeron said the route is not only aimed at the Philippine market but also provides an additional gateway for Chinese travelers who are increasingly transiting through regional hubs due to reduced nonstop service.

“Right now, Chinese travel, of course, a lot of them through Hong Kong Airlines, but also they're traveling through Incheon, because Hong Kong Airlines currently only serves twice a week to the CNMI, so the access is not available, it's not easily accessible. So having an additional two times a week from PAL will increase the access for Chinese travelers, but also for everybody,” she told the media after the MVA monthly meeting last Dec. 29 at the MVA office along Beach Road in Garapan.

As for the around 3am departure time from Manila, which could be difficult for Chinese tourists, Taijeron said MVA is working with stakeholders to improve connectivity and address scheduling challenges associated with the departure times from the Philippines.

At the same time, Taijeron said MVA is leaning heavily on the Korea market, the CNMI’s largest source of visitors, as it works to stabilize tourism arrivals.

She confirmed that charter flights arranged through E-Land partners T’Way Air and Busan Air will operate in January and February, adding roughly four flights a week during the peak winter season.

In response, the MVA board approved an increase of about $203,000 to its Korea marketing budget, raising total spending for that market from roughly $800,000 to just over $1 million. Korea currently accounts for close to 70% of total visitor arrivals to the CNMI.

“This is really critical because Korea is our No. 1 market right now,” said Taijeron. “So, we need to support the efforts in Korea to continue to drive that market while it's our No. 1 market as we diversify and look into other markets at the same time.”

The MVA managing director emphasized that the additional funds will be used for marketing and promotions rather than subsidizing airline seats, to ensure strong demand for the added charter capacity.

Despite improving airlift prospects, Taijeron raised concerns about MVA’s reduced spending authority under the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget, from the proposed $6.4 million to just $3.8 million.

With hotel occupancy tax revenues down due to lower visitor numbers, she said MVA is facing tighter financial constraints at a time when it is trying to rebuild tourism.

“It is a huge challenge. And, you know, we keep saying that right now, tourism is our only economy, and we need to support it. Every other destination, when they identify that they need to improve their tourism, they support tourism.”

Taijeron said MVA plans to continue discussions with Gov. David M. Apatang and the Legislature in hopes of amending the budget or securing supplemental funding to align spending authority with available funds. She added that, despite the financial challenges, the outlook for early 2026 is improving as airlines confirm additional service to the CNMI.

“Without flights, we simply cannot increase visitor arrivals,” she said. “Once we get the flights, we’re confident we can build the market and bring visitors back.”

During the actual MVA meeting, board director Chris Nelson inquired about the viability of the reboot of the Manila-Saipan service.

“We want that flight to be successful, but I'm just wondering what the business case is, because I remember a few years ago that flight not being successful, and our economy is smaller, the number of workers that are here is smaller, everything is smaller than it was, and so I just would like to know what our direction is, if we're going to support, how we're going to best support that?

MVA board chair Warren F. Villagomez said, perhaps, it would be wise to invite a representative from Philippine Airlines in the next MVA board meeting.

“Maybe invite a representative to go online, just to give us an overview of exactly what the initiatives and the market points forward, because the commitment that we're making for our people, as well as the Filipino communities, they're looking at it as longer than just how it was in previous years,” he said.

Earlier in the board meeting, Taijeron reported that visitor arrivals in November totaled 8,618, a 29.7% decline year over year, largely driven by reduced airline seat capacity. Japan arrivals more than doubled compared to last year due to group travel, while Korea arrivals fell 42% amid flight reductions. China showed signs of gradual recovery. Despite fewer seats, load factors remained relatively strong at about 76% in November.

Looking ahead, she said MVA projects about 148,000 visitors for FY2026, up 2% from its previous forecast but still below last year’s 160,000 arrivals. The outlook includes added service from Hong Kong Airlines and Philippine Airlines, offset by Jeju Air’s shift from daytime to nighttime flights, which management said could affect higher-spending independent travelers.

In other actions, the board moved to update MVA policies to comply with Public Law 24-18, which increases paid military leave for government employees from 15 to 30 working days annually, and approved the rescission and reissuance of a request for proposals for improvements at Marpi tourist sites, over a dissenting vote from Saipan board member Vicky Benavente.