Hawaii Visitors Set January Record

The nearly 600,000 people who visited Hawaii in January set a record for arrivals that month, according to a report issued Tuesday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. As has been the case in recent years, domestic travelers again buoyed Hawaii's visitor industry. Key measures included a 6.8 percent increase in days spent in the islands by domestic visitors, fueled by a 6.5 percent increase in such travelers to a new January record of almost 410,000 arrivals. Domestic travelers who came to Hawaii also spent more than travelers who visited during January 2005, with travelers from east of the Rockies spending 13 percent more, for a total of $371 million. Those from the western part of the country also spent more, for a total of almost $333 million, an uptick of 12 percent. Total visitor spending for January hit $1 billion. "The continued record increase in visitor arrivals from the domestic market has been phenomenal," says Marsha Wienert, state tourism liaison. She adds that growth in the cruise industry also is adding to the diversity of the state's visitor market.