Surge in Fall Visitor Spending for Maui

Visitor Spending in Hawaiʻi is up for a fifth consecutive month.

The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority reports that what’s especially notable is that the largest percentage of growth has been achieved in September (10.4%) and October (6.8%).

HTA president George Szigeti said Maui, Kauaʻi and the the Big Island of Hawaiʻi have benefited most from this surge in fall visitor spending, as they have recorded double-digit increases for each of the past two months.

Through October 2016, visitor arrivals for Maui were up +4.2% and visitor spending year-to-date grew on Maui by 9.6% to $3.7 million.

Szigeti said that with the peak holiday travel season upon us, the State of Hawaiʻi is in excellent position to set new yearly records in both categories, as well as generated state tax revenue.

“The growth in visitor spending continues to strengthen the tax revenue base for the entire state. Hawaii’s tourism industry has produced $1.37 billion in state tax revenue through October, an increase of $52 million over last year. It’s gratifying to know how much tourism is contributing to Hawaiʻi’s economic success and supporting government services that all of our communities need,” said Szigeti.

Statewide, visitors to Hawaiʻi spent a total of $1.2 billion in October 2016, a 6.8% increase compared to last October and the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year growth, according to preliminary statistics released by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

Total visitor arrivals increased 4.3% to set a new record of 717,486 visitors for the month of October. Total visitor days[1] grew 3.8 percent compared to October 2015.

Spending by visitors increased in October 2016 from U.S. West (+12.5% to $449.6 million), U.S. East (+0.6% to $257.9 million), Japan (+5.5% to $192.1 million) and All Other International Markets (+6.2% to $257.5 million), while spending by visitors from Canada was similar (+0.5% to $56.8 million) to last October.

In October 2016, the statewide average daily spending of $197 per person was higher (+2.9%) than a year ago. Visitors from U.S. West (+7.1%), U.S. East (+1.5%), Japan (+3.4%), and Canada (+5.4%) spent more per day, while visitors from All Other International Markets spent less (-3.2%).

A total of 696,812 visitors (+4%) arrived in Hawaii by airlines in October 2016, with 20,673 visitors (+16.8%) coming via cruise ships. Arrivals by air rose from U.S. West (+6.5% to 287,058), Japan (+2.7% to 135,343) and All Other International Markets (+6.2% to 117,693). The number of arrivals from U.S. East (+0.2% to 129,020) was similar to last year, while arrivals from Canada (-5.1% to 27,698) declined.