A direct flight from Beijing to Saipan was inaugurated on December 17, making Beijing the third city on Chinese mainland that has direct flight to Marianas after Guangzhou and Shanghai.

The direct flight, operated by Air China will be twice a week. Every Thursday and Sunday, the aircraft will take off from Beijing at 18:10 and arrive in Saipan at 1:55 next morning local time.

Experts said the direct flight will provide convenience for passengers traveling to Saipan from northern China. Passengers currently have to transfer via Shanghai and Guangzhou, many spending as long as 10 hours waiting in the airport.

"We welcome more and more Chinese tourists to Marianas, the nearest US territory to China. Chinese visitors can enjoy rich cultural resource and historical relics on the islands. We will provide more favorable conditions for Chinese charter flights and visitors' entry permits," said Perry Tenorio, director of Marianas Tourism Bureau.

He predicted some 900 Beijing travelers will fly on board of the direct flights by year end and the number will reach 16,000 in one year.

At the end of 2004, Chinese tourists were allowed to visit Marianas, which consisted 14 islands including Saipan. Last year, Saipan hosted 33,000 Chinese visitors and the figure is still increasing at roughly 15 percent annually.