The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visitors Authority says the CNMI will lose over 65 million US dollars in direct and indirect economic impact this year, if the continuing downward spiral of Korean arrivals does not improve.
The Visitors Authority managing director, Perry Tenorio, disclosed this yesterday to Saipan Tribune, saying the projection is based on only 90,000 tourists from Korea visiting the CNMI this year, compared to last year's 116,000 arrivals.
Mr Tenorio says the nation is looking at a 15 million US dollar -plus indirect impact and over 50 million US dollar direct effect to the CNMI if the trend continues.
He says the Visitors Authority is saddened by the suspension of four flights from Seoul but adds that the situation is understandable.
