Hawaii Sees Travel Increase for June

It looks like all of the investment in airlift to Hawaii is paying off: The Hawaii Tourism Authority has released their preliminary statistics for June (the month that Hawaiian Airlines launched its nonstop service between New York and Honolulu and United launched nonstop service between Washington, D.C. and the state capital), and the increases are substantial.

Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawaii in June 2012 rose 20.4 percent compared to the previous year (or $207 million) to $1.2 billion1, a new record for the month of June. Strong growth in total arrivals (+11.5 percent to 677,218 visitors) and higher daily spending contributed to this increase.

Among Hawaii’s top visitor markets in June 2012, arrivals by air from U.S. West were up 4 percent from a year ago to 285,342 visitors, the eighth month of consecutive growth. Total U.S. West visitor expenditures grew 9.8 percent to $410 million. U.S. East arrivals rose 8.1 percent to 173,002 visitors, the tenth straight month of increases, while total visitor spending increased (+10.6 percent) to $339 million.

Canadian arrivals increased 3.4 percent to 16,705 visitors. Total Canadian visitor expenditures grew 14.9 percent to $30.1 million due to higher daily spending.

Total visitor expenditures (+58.9 percent to $219.5 million) and arrivals (+39.6 percent) from all other2 markets showed particularly strong growth compared to June 2011.

Mike McCartney, president & CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said that Hawaii’s tourism economy is on pace to set a record-breaking year. "During the first six months, Hawaii welcomed 3.9 million guests and generated $7.1 billion in expenditures, an incremental $1.2 billion from the same period last year," he said. "This positive momentum is expected to continue through the second half of the year as airlift to the Hawaiian Islands expands with additional service by Allegiant Travel, Asiana Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and international charter flights."

Photo Courtesy of Ron Garnett and the HVCB