The Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) is opening to international visitors next week but remains isolated from its main tourism markets in Asia.
Saipan Hotel, the Northern Marianas Islands. Photo: The Marianas Visitors Authority
The Marianas Visitors Authority said scheduled flights were not expected to return until September.
Korea's Asiana Airlines is beginning an eight-flight trial in mid-August but won't start scheduled flights until September at the earliest, according to the authority, and Japan's Skymark Airlines will re-start flights at the end of September.
Korean leisure carrier Jeju Airlines has flights from Seoul listed on its website from 1 September while Chinese carriers have yet to confirm renewed plans.
Currently, there are only three hotels open in the CNMI - Kensington Hotel, Surf Rider, and Hyatt Regency Hotel - while a fourth, Kanoa Resort Hotel, is being used as an alternative Covid-19 care site.
There are around 70 hotels and resorts registered in the CNMI.
Last year the Marianas Visitors Authority had pinned its hopes on 2020 as a year of recovery following the rebuild in 2019 after 2018's Super Typhoon Yutu.