Typhoon Sinlaku cripples CNMI's tourism as industry stakeholders hope for summer recovery

Super Typhoon Sinlaku dealt a devastating blow to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands' (CNMI) tourism industry, with visitor arrivals plunging 72 percent in April as flight disruptions and storm damage compounded the destination's ongoing struggle to recover from the pandemic.

The Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) reported just 3277 visitor arrivals in April 2026, down sharply from 11,880 arrivals during the same month a year earlier.

The storm, which struck the CNMI in mid-April, forced the temporary suspension of international nighttime flight operations at Francisco C Ada/Saipan International Airport, severely affecting the tourism-dependent economy.

Tourism officials said the destination was already facing significant headwinds before Sinlaku, including unfavorable currency exchange rates, rising fuel costs, airline network changes, intense competition from other destinations, and geopolitical tensions affecting travel from China - once the CNMI's largest visitor market.

South Korea, traditionally the CNMI's biggest source market, recorded the steepest decline, with arrivals falling 90 precent to 740 visitors in April from 7251 a year earlier.

There are signs of recovery, however, with Jeju Air opening bookings for the planned resumption of direct Seoul-Saipan flights beginning 20 June, subject to operational conditions.

Japan arrivals dropped 75 percent to 225 visitors from 910 a year earlier. United Airlines is scheduled to resume its three-weekly Tokyo Narita-Saipan service on 2 August, while Japanese travel agencies are awaiting the airport's full reopening before restarting package tours.

The China market also weakened, with arrivals falling 50 pecent to 391 visitors. Hong Kong Airlines is expected to resume Hong Kong-Saipan flights in July, although a date has yet to be confirmed.

Tourism stakeholders continue to view the CNMI Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program, or EVS-TAP, as critical to rebuilding arrivals from China.

The United States market proved the most resilient.

While arrivals from the US also declined, officials said the reduction was far less severe than in other markets because of the influx of emergency responders, utility workers, relief personnel, and other recovery teams assisting the islands following the typhoon. The CNMI received 1130 visitors from the US during April.

Tourism stakeholders are now looking toward the summer season, when several international air routes are expected to resume, as the US Pacific territory seeks to rebuild one of its key economic sectors after another major natural disaster.