Although 2009 is full of uncertainty for the CNMI tourism industry, the Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors chair Jerry Tan believes increased airline seat capacity could help the CNMI.
During the authority's biannual membership meeting last week, Mr Tan presented his forecast for 2009; a task that he said was not easy.
He says 2009 is really full of uncertainty, and in order to do a good forecast you need a good basis.
Mr Tan says there are too many unknown factors including inflation, federalisation and the visa waiver programme, which are all beyond MVA control.
His forecast for 2009, based on actual arrivals and airline load factors, shows an increase of 56,000 tourists to 433,000 from 2008 estimated numbers.
He predicts the increase in visitors will come only from South Korea and Japan.
