The Hawaii Tourism Authority has declared 2011 "an outstanding year for Hawaii's tourism economy," with momentum and growth seen across the Hawaiian Islands.
The month of December 2011 saw nearly $1.3 billion in visitor spending, the highest single month on record. Despite the tragedy in Japan last March, the state was still able to exceed overall 2010 numbers in spending and arrivals. The Authority also noted that they have seen consistent growth in the state's tourism economy since 2009.
By focusing on developing the brand experience through signature events such as the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival, PGA Tour events, Hawaiian Islands Invitational Soccer Tournament and Mele Mei, the HTA plans to maintain the growth across the islands throughout 2012.
This year saw significant increases in airlift to the island from emerging and established markets. The HTA has worked with airline partners to establish more direct flights servicing the neighbor islands, which has helped to contribute to longer length of stay on the four major islands and in turn higher visitor spending. They anticipate the announcement of new routes in the first half of 2012, which will also help continue the momentum.
