Report: Visitor Spending on Maui Drops Despite Rise in Arrivals

During the first few months of this year, visitors on Maui spent nearly 6% less than they did last year, according to a report from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. However, about 3% more visitors came to Maui during the first few months of this year compared to a year ago.

Among the four larger islands, only Oʻahu saw a rise in both visitor spending and visitor arrivals throughout the first few months of this year compared to a year ago. On the other hand, Hawaiʻi Island and Kauaʻi recorded declines in both visitor spending and arrivals.

According to the HTA report, visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $4.52 billion during the first few months of this year, a 2.4% decrease compared to last year. At the beginning of this year, visitors from the US West region spent about the same from last year, while visitors from US East spent less. Visitors from Japan, Canada, and all other international markets spent less compared to a year ago as well.

The total amount of visitors during the first few months of this year grew about 3% compared to last year. Since visitors stayed in the islands for a shorter amount of days on average, total visitor days remained about the same compared to last year, according to the HTA.

More visitors from US West, US East, Japan, and Canada arrived in the islands by air service compared to last year. Fewer visitors from all other international markets arrived by air service compared to a year ago.

March 2019 Visitor Results

This past March, total visitor spending statewide declined 2.3% compared to March of last year. Visitor spending rose from US West but decreased from US East, Japan, Canada, and all other international markets.

On a statewide level, average daily visitor spending was down 3% in March year-over-year. Visitors from the US West, Canada, Japan, and US East spent less per day in March compared to a year ago.

Nearly 4% more visitors came to Hawaiʻi in March than from last March. Air service arrivals increased while cruise ship arrivals dropped. Total visitor days saw a slight rise.

There were slightly more air service arrivals from US West, US East, and Canada in March compared to last year. Arrivals from Japan were comparable, while arrivals from all other international markets decreased.

The average daily census of total visitors in the Hawaiian Islands on any given day in March was 253,498, comparable to March of last year.

More information is available on the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority website.