By Haidee V. Eugenio
SAIPAN, CNMI (Saipan Tribune, July 4, 2014) – Korea is on its way to surpassing Japan for the first time as the CNMI’s largest source of tourists by the end of fiscal year 2014, officials said yesterday as they also pointed to continued growth in visitor arrivals from China, Russia, and Taiwan. Gov. Eloy S. Inos said the CNMI may see its annual arrivals reach 700,000 once again in two to three years.
Arrivals from Korea are projected to reach more than 158,000 in 2014, compared to expected arrivals from Japan at a little over 124,000, based on data from Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio.
In 2013, the CNMI received 148,423 tourists from Japan and 135,458 from Korea, MVA data shows.
"If you take a closer look, we might be able to see 470,000 tourists by the end of the year, or maybe come close...