Hawaii Visitors Set Spending Record

Last year, visitors to Hawaii spent $12 billion on their stays, setting a new record, according to figures released Friday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Total visitor days were flat compared with 2005, so the 2.9 percent year-over-year increase was driven by people spending more each day than travelers had in 2005. A deeper look at the numbers provides agents with insight into what Hawaii travelers tend to spend on a trip to Hawaii. In 2006, visitors from west of the Rockies contributed more than a third of these dollars, spending a total $4.7 billion, an increase of 9 percent from 2005. These travelers spent an average of $158 per person per day, up 6.1 percent from the 2005 average. Spending by U.S. travelers from east of the Rockies rose by 1.4 percent to $3.6 billion, making this market Hawaii's second in terms of spending. These travelers spent the most per trip, $1,877 per person on average, and the second-most per day at $183 per person per day.