Tourism Report: Maui October Visitor Days Down 83 Percent from 2019

Visitors flying to Maui in October 2020 was down 83 percent from October 2019. Photo Credit: Cammy Clark

Hawaiʻi’s visitor industry, including tourism in Maui, continues to be severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, Hawaiʻi visitor arrivals decreased 90.4 percent compared to a year ago, according to preliminary statistics released by The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Tourism Research Division

On Maui, total visitor days in October declined 83.1 percent from a year ago. There were 23,103 visitors for the month compared to 238,043 during October 2019. Year-to-date through October, visitor arrivals decreased 75 percent to 637,315 visitors.

The full October tourism report with Maui information is available in the attached link: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/5942/october-2020-visitor-statistics-press-release-final.pdf.

On Oct.15, the state launched a pre-travel testing program, allowing passengers arriving from out-of-state and traveling inter-county to bypass the 14-day quarantine with a valid negative COVID-19 test result from a Trusted Testing and Travel Partner. As a result, slightly more travelers arrived in Hawaii than in previous months, when testing was not an option to bypass the transpacific quarantine requirement that began March 26.

Also in October, the County of Maui issued a stay-at-home order for all individuals on Lānaʻi that began on Oct. 27. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continued to enforce the “No Sail Order” on all cruise ships.

During October 2020, 76,613 visitors traveled to Hawaiʻi by air service, compared to 796,191 visitors who came by air service and cruise ships in October 2019. Most of the visitors were from U.S. West (53,396, -84.9%) and U.S. East (19,582, -86.8%). Only 183 visitors came from Japan (-99.9%) and 389 came from Canada (-98.8%).

There were 3,064 visitors from all other international markets (-97.1%). Many of these visitors were from Guam, and a small number of visitors were from the Philippines, other areas of Asia, Europe, Latin America, Oceania and the Pacific Islands. Total visitor days declined 81.7 percent compared to October of last year.

A total of 223,353 transpacific air seats serviced the Hawaiian Islands in October, down 79 percent from a year ago. There were no direct flights or scheduled seats from Canada, Oceania and other Asia countries, and fewer scheduled seats from Japan (-98.6%), U.S. East (-74.3%), U.S. West (-72.5%), and other countries (-54.6%) compared to a year ago.

Year-to-Date 2020

In the first 10 months of 2020, total visitor arrivals dropped 73.4 percent to 2,296,622 visitors, with significantly fewer arrivals by air service (-73.4% to 2,266,831) and by cruise ships (-74.2% to 29,792) compared to the same period a year ago. Total visitor days fell 68.6 percent.

Year-to-date, visitor arrivals by air service decreased from U.S. West (-73.2% to 1,016,948), U.S. East (-70.5% to 564,318), Japan (-77.5% to 294,830), Canada (-63.2% to 156,565) and All Other International Markets (-78.0% to 234,168).

Other Highlights:

U.S. West: In October, 41,897 visitors arrived from the Pacific region compared to 271,184 visitors a year ago, and 11,496 visitors came from the Mountain region compared to 78,412 a year ago. Through the first 10 months of 2020, visitor arrivals decreased significantly from both the Pacific (-74.4% to 769,801) and Mountain (-69.1% to 226,657) regions year-over-year.

Alaska residents returning home were required to submit a travel declaration and self-isolation plan online, and arrive with proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

U.S. East: Of the 19,582 U.S. East visitors in October, the majority were from the South Atlantic (-84.9% to 5,162), West South Central (-83.9% to 4,282) and East North Central (-87.8% to 3,594) regions. Through the first 10 months of 2020, visitor arrivals declined sharply from all regions. The three largest regions, East North Central (-67.2% to 117,060), South Atlantic (-74.3% to 107,721) and West North Central (-56.5% to 97,569) saw sharp decreases compared to the first 10 months of 2019.

In New York, a 14-day quarantine was required if a returning resident came from states with a significant degree of COVID-19 spread, defined as daily case rate of more than 10 in every 100,000 resident or a positive testing rate of higher than 10 percent.

Japan: In October, 183 visitors arrived from Japan compared to 134,557 visitors a year ago. Of the 183 visitors, 128 arrived on international flights from Japan and 55 came on domestic flights. Year-to-date through October, arrivals declined 77.5 percent to 294,830 visitors. Japanese nationals returning from abroad were requested to refrain from using public transportation and to stay at home for 14 days.

Canada: In October, 389 visitors arrived from Canada compared to 32,250 visitors a year ago. All 389 visitors came to Hawaiʻi on domestic flights. Year-to-date through October, arrivals dropped 63.2 percent to 156,565 visitors. U.S. borders with Canada were restricted since March 2020. Travelers returning to Canada must self-isolate for 14 days.