Hawai‘i August Visitor Spending Grew 6.1 Percent

Tourism. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.39 billion in Aug. 2017, an increase of 6.1% compared to Aug. 2016, according to preliminary statistics released by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA).

Total visitor arrivals rose 4.8% to 818,581 visitors in Aug., marked by growth in arrivals from both air service (+4.8% to 815,949) and cruise ships (+39.8% to 2,632).

Hawai‘i’s four largest visitor markets, U.S. west, U.S. east, Japan and Canada, all reported increases in visitor spending and arrivals in Aug.

The U.S. east market reported the largest gain in visitor spending (+11.7% to $328.3 million) year-over-year. Daily spending (+5% to $211 per person) was higher compared to a year ago and arrivals also grew (+6.6% 159,572) supported by increased air seats from Minneapolis, Dallas and Chicago.

The Japan market continued to realize growth in visitor spending (+9.4% to $231.6 million), visitor arrivals (+5.2% to 160,424) and daily spending (+2% to $224 per person), boosted by the additional direct flights serving Honolulu and Kona that began in prior months.

Spending by U.S. West visitors also increased (+1.5% to $489.9 million). Arrivals were up (+3.7% to 342,054), but a shorter length of stay (-3% to 8.51 days) resulted in marginal growth in visitor days (+0.6%). Daily spending (+0.9% to $168 per person) rose slightly versus last year.

The Canada market recorded growth in visitor spending (+6.2% to $51 million) compared to a year ago. Visitor arrivals increased (+6% to 29,542) but daily spending declined (-1.9% to $156 per person) from a year ago.

Combined visitor spending from all other international markets also increased (+5.7% to $290.5 million), boosted by growth in arrivals (+4.6% to 124,358) and higher daily spending.

All four larger Hawaiian Islands saw growth in visitor spending and arrivals in Aug. 2017 compared to last year.

On Maui, visitor spending rose (+4% to $364.8 million) due to increases in visitor days (+1.7%) and daily spending (+2.3% to $211 per person). Visitor arrivals rose (+2.5% to 233,266), highlighted by growth from Japan (+36.5%), Canada (+9.1%) and U.S. East (+7.4%). Through the first eight months of 2017, visitor spending (+5.2% to $3.21 billion) and arrivals (+3.2% to 1,855,831) were higher compared to the same period last year.