Tourism Headed for Record-Breaking Year

Front Street. Courtesy of HVCB.

By Sonia Isotov

Total expenditures by visitors who came to Maui in June 2012 rose 22.5% compared to the previous year (or $295 million) to $305 million.

Statewide, total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawaii in June 2012 rose 20.4% compared to the previous year (or $207 million) to $1.2 billion, a new record for the month of June, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

A strong growth in total arrivals (+11.5% to 677,218 visitors) and higher daily spending contributed to this increase statewide, and on Maui, total arrivals were up 8.1% to 1,152,882 visitors.

“Hawaii’s tourism economy is on pace to set a record-breaking year in 2012 with double digit increases in visitor arrivals and expenditures through June. During the first six months, Hawaii welcomed 3.9 million guests and generated $7.1 billion in expenditures, an incremental $1.2 billion from the same period last year,” said Mike McCartney, the president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, in a written statement.

Japanese tourists enjoy a day on Maui. Courtesy of HVCB.

“This positive momentum is expected to continue through the second half of the year as airlift to the Hawaiian Islands expands with additional service by Allegiant Travel, Asiana Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and international charter flights

Among Hawaii’s top visitor markets in June 2012, arrivals by air from US West were up 4% from a year ago to 285,342 visitors, the eighth month of consecutive growth.

Total US West visitor expenditures grew 9.8% to $410 million. US East arrivals rose 8.1% to 173,002 visitors, the tenth straight month of increases, while total visitor spending increased (+10.6%) to $339 million.

Japanese arrivals grew 21.9% to 115,788 visitors, but remained below the June 1995 record of 177,299 visitors. A longer length of stay (6.21 days from 5.79 days in June 2011) elevated total Japanese visitor expenditures (+31.4%) to $219.1 million.

Canadian arrivals increased 3.4% to 16,705 visitors. Total Canadian visitor expenditures grew 14.9% to $30.1 million due to higher daily spending.

Total visitor expenditures (+58.9% to $219.5 million) and arrivals (+39.6%) from all other markets showed particularly strong growth compared to June 2011.