Maui Visitor Arrivals, Spending Up Significantly Over Last Year

File photo.

By Sonia Isotov

According to data released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitor arrivals in Maui County for the year-to-date through April 2011 were up 10% over last year, and total visitor expenditures for the island of Maui was $247.3 million in April 2011, or a 22.4% increase over April 2010.

Overall, Hawaii’s tourism economy continued to see growth in April, contributing to a 17.8 percent rise in visitor spending to $4.1 billion for the first four months of 2011.

“This represents the twelfth consecutive month of double-digit increases in overall visitor spending. More importantly, this sustained momentum is being experienced on all islands, with arrivals and expenditures currently on pace with our peak years of 2006 and 2007.” Said Mike McCartney, President and CEO, Hawaii Tourism Authority, in a written statement released today. “While Hawaii’s tourism economy is continuing its recovery, we must all be mindful of the effects of fluctuating oil prices, fuel surcharges, natural disasters and the many other impacts that can and will affect discretionary spending, including both leisure and business travel.”

Maui County saw 181,880 visitor arrivals in the month of April 2011, up 10.6% over last year for the month of April 2010, when 164,379 visitors arrived. Year-to-date thru April 2011, Maui County saw 746,591 visitors, or a 10% increased over the year-to-date through April 2010 last year, when 678,542 visitors arrived in Maui County.

Total per person per day spending for visitors to the island of Maui for April 2011 was $179.40, a 8.9% increase over April 2010, when it was $164.80. Year-to-date through April 2011, Maui saw a total per person per day spending of $183.90, or a 5.2% increase from the same period last year, when it was $174.80.

Total per person per trip spending for Maui was up 10.3% for the month April 2011 over last year same period, or $1,382.20 and $1,254.10, respectively. And, for Maui, for the year-to-date through April 2011, and for last year for the same period, total per person per trip spending was $1,552.60 and $1,469.50, respectively.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate May to be another strong month with Golden Week charter flights, the beginning of summer travel, and the estimated 80,000 room nights generated by the American Psychiatric Association meeting held at the Hawai’i Convention Center. We also expect our diversified marketing efforts in China, Korea, Oceania and North America to create demand and maintain airlift, attracting increased visitors and their spending to our islands.” added Mike McCartney.