A new air service was launched from Shanxi to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands on Dec 16, as part of an air charter that Shanxi has started for island tours this winter.
Shanxi Baohua International Travel Service Agency and the Northern Marianas Visitors Authority will launch 13 scheduled flights between Shanxi and Saipan from Dec 16 to Feb 14, using luxurious wide-body aircraft.
The flights will have a duration of six hours and will take off at 5:30 pm (China Standard Time) or 10:50 am (local time) from Saipan.
Overseas travel from Shanxi has risen in recent years as the number of local tourists traveling abroad has increased, while traditional destinations, such as Japan, South Korea and countries in Southeast Asia, can no longer meet the increasing demand from Chinese visitors.
With Saipan being the capital, the Northern Mariana Islands are part of a Commonwealth of the United States, owning unique landscapes. At present they are the only part of the United States that Chinese citizens can visit without the need to first acquire a visa.
Therefore, the flights to Saipan will offer a new and good choice to locals when they travel during New Year's Day and the Spring Festival holidays.
Advance booking opened for the new service on Oct 21 with each ticket costing 5,599 yuan ($805.62). It's estimated that more than 3,000 Shanxi residents will visit Saipan during the Spring Festival holiday.
Shanxi travel agencies are expected to offer more travel options like island tours, improving tourism services and boosting local tourism.
