Hawaii Sees Notable Increase in Visitor Spending

Great news from the Hawaii Tourism Authority: Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawaii in the first 10 months of 2011 grew 14.8 percent, compared to the same period in 2010, to $10.3 billion. Total visitor days for all visitors increased 4.1 percent and total arrivals (+2.6 percent) continued to exceed last year at 6,034,104 visitors.

For the month of October 2011, total visitor expenditures rose 15.6 percent (up $141.7 million) from October 2010 to $1.1 billion. Total spending by all visitors has risen every month since December 2010. Contributing to the growth in October 2011 was higher daily spending ($199 per person, up from $177 per person in October 2010) and a 2.3 percent increase in total arrivals to 587,711 visitors.

Total arrivals by air only in October 2011 were relatively unchanged (+0.2 percent) compared to last October at 565,848 visitors. Japanese arrivals showed moderate growth for a second straight month, up 0.6 percent from October 2010. U.S. East arrivals (+1 percent) also increased for the second consecutive month. However, arrivals from U.S. West declined 5.1 percent from last October. The number of visitors who arrived aboard cruise ships in October 2011 doubled from October 2010 to 21,863 visitors.

Total expenditures by U.S. West (+7 percent) and U.S. East (+9.3 percent) visitors continued to increase. Despite some fluctuations over the past few months, U.S. West (+0.9 percent) and U.S. East (+0.8 percent) arrivals remained ahead of year-to-date 2010. Total Japanese visitor expenditures rose 7 percent, even though arrivals were lower (-6.3 percent) compared to the first 10 months of 2010.

HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney said that October was another month of continued recovery for Hawaii's tourism economy. "Visitor spending has contributed $1.3 billion more in to Hawaii's compared to last year, reaching $10.3 billion. Visitors in October 2011 spent $20 more per person per day than last October. On Oahu alone, visitor spending reached $639 million, up an impressive 36 percent over October 2010, and has increased every month in 2011."
 
McCartney also said that the HTA was pleased with continued growth from international markets, including the second positive month of arrivals from Japan since the earthquake and tsunami in March. "New and additional airlift through 2012 also demonstrates that demand for travel to the Hawaiian Islands remains high, and is a good indicator of momentum for the visitor industry in the coming year."

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