Maui Visitor Spending and Arrivals Up in January

Visitor spending on Maui increased 7.7 percent to $510.7 million in January 2020, year-over-year, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

On Maui, there were increases in visitor arrivals (+3.6% to 242,472), visitor days (+1.3%) and daily visitor spending (+6.3% to $233 per person) compared to January 2019.

There were also more visitors from the US West (+9.3%) and US East (+7.9%), which offset fewer visitors from Japan (-10.6%) and Canada (-6.7%).

The average daily census for Maui grew 1.3 percent to 70,806 visitors.

View from above on approach to Kahului Airport. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Other Island Highlights:

• O‘ahu: Visitor spending decreased 1.4 percent to $701.6 million in January year-over-year. Arrivals increased 4.2 percent to 512,621 visitors, but a shorter length of stay (-3.1% to 7.20 days) led to only a slight growth in visitor days (+0.9%). Daily visitor spending (-2.3% to $190 per person) was lower compared to January 2019. There were more visitors from US East (+13.3%), US West (+13.1%), Japan (+3.8%) and Canada (+0.9%). The average daily census rose slightly by 0.9 percent to 118,993 visitors in January.
• Island of Hawai‘i: In January, visitor spending increased 14.1 percent to $290.5 million, boosted by growth in visitor arrivals (+9.4% to 163,530), visitor days (+8.1%) and higher daily visitor spending (+5.6% to $202 per person). Visitor arrivals increased from the four largest markets, Japan (+37.4%), US West (+14.8%), US East (+14.5%) and Canada (+1.8%). The average daily census rose 8.1 percent to 46,375 visitors.
• Kaua‘i: In January, visitor spending rose 8.7 percent to $191.3 million, boosted by higher daily spending (+8.9% to $208 per person). Arrivals increased 7.3 percent to 113,847 visitors. However, a shorter length of stay (-6.9% to 8.09 days) resulted in no growth in visitor days (-0.2%). There were more visitors from US West (+13.7%) and US East (+5.9%), but fewer visitors from Japan (-31.8%) and Canada (-6.7%) compared to January 2019. The average daily census was 29,728 visitors (-0.2%).

Statewide Stats:

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent $1.71 billion in January 2020, an increase of 5 percent compared to January 2019, according to the HTA. Visitor spending includes lodging, interisland airfare, shopping, food, car rental and other expenses while in Hawai‘i.

Tourism dollars from the Transient Accommodations Tax helped to fund a number of community events statewide during January, such as the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i’s New Year’s ‘Ohana Festival, and sporting events like the Polynesian Bowl and the Hula Bowl.

On a statewide level, average daily spending by visitors in January rose to $205 per person (+2.9%). Visitors from U.S. East (+3.4% to $225), U.S. West (+3.3% to $186), Canada (+2.3% to $176), Japan (+0.8% to $240) and All Other International Markets (+2.8% to $226) spent more compared to January 2019.

A total of 862,574 visitors came to Hawai‘i in January, an increase of 5.1 percent compared to a year ago. Total visitor days rose two percent. The average daily census of total visitors in the Hawaiian Islands on any given day in January was 269,421, up 2 percent.