Robust Growth on Maui Fueled by Double-Digit Increase in Air Seats

Checkpoint screening area at Kahului airport. File photo courtesy Hawaii DOT.

Tourism officials are reporting a double-digit increase in air seats to Kahului, Maui, leading to increases in both visitor arrivals and expenditures, according to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Maui experienced a 17.4% increase in air seats to 1.56 million, the agency reports.  “This helped boost visitor arrivals by 5.9% to 1.73 million, and total expenditures to $2.9 billion, up 6.4% year-to-date compared to 2014,” said George Szigeti, President and CEO of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

According to Szigeti, more travelers chose to spend their time exclusively on Maui as well during their trip to the Hawaiian Islands, up 8.1% to 1,090,601 visitors compared to 2014.

Szigeti released a statement today saying that while “growth in August was not as strong” as in previous months, Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry continues to exceed 2014 records in spending and arrivals.”  According to the HTA, spending reached $10.3 billion for the first eight months of 2015 and contributed $1.1 billion in state tax revenue.

Szigeti said that while the HTA is pleased with continued growth in air seats and arrivals, the agency continues to monitor various factors that could impact the industry.

“Fuel prices have been dropping, the international stock market continues to be in-flux, and economic conditions in both Europe and Asia have been unstable. All of these factors could have a potential impact on spending and arrivals to the state,” said Szigeti.

In an effort to maintain “top-of-mind” status among travelers, Szigeti said the HTA intends to continue work with global partners to implement creative and innovative strategies.