Stats: Hawaii Visitors Spent $1.29 Billion in November

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.29 billion in November 2017, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).

Total visitor arrivals grew 7.3 percent to 748,303 visitors, comprising of arrivals from air service (up 7.5 percent to 738,519) and cruise ships (down 1.2 percent to 9,784).

“Strong travel demand from North America, Asia and Oceania translated into an excellent month for the state’s tourism industry in November,” said George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the HTA, in a  written release. “Air seat capacity rose five percent, the largest monthly increase thus far in 2017, and visitor arrivals grew 7.3 percent, which, except for April at 7.5 percent, was also the highest rate of growth for the year.”

Spending by visitors from the U.S. West market rose (up 8.7 percent to $500.9 million) in November. Both total visitor arrivals (up 9.1 percent to 322,195) and average daily spending by each visitor (up 1.6 percent to $176 per person) increased from last November.

The U.S. East market reported a gain in visitor spending (up 5.2 percent to $266 million) in November, boosted by increases in visitor arrivals (up 4 percent to 132,683) and average daily spending (up 2.4 percent to $210 per person).

The Japan market saw a decrease in visitor spending (down 6.2 percent to $183.3 million) in November. While visitor arrivals (up 0.2 percent to 130,168) and average length of stay (up 0.7 percent to 5.64 days) were comparable to a year ago, average daily spending declined (down 7 percent to $250 per person).

There was strong growth in visitor spending from the Canada market (up 11.5 percent to $96.4 million) in November. A substantial increase in visitor arrivals (up 18.4 percent to 51,785) offset a decrease in average daily spending (down 3.2 percent to $156 per person) compared to last November.

Combined visitor spending from All Other International markets increased (up 2.2 percent to $239 million) in November, boosted by growth in visitor arrivals (up 11.9 percent to 101,688) year-over-year.

All four larger Hawaiian Islands saw growth in visitor spending and arrivals in November compared to last year.

Total air seats serving Hawaii rose (up 5 percent to 964,993) in November year-over-year, with increases in scheduled air seats from Canada (up 21.4 percent), “Other Asia” (up 20.1 percent), Oceania (up 6.3 percent), U.S. West (up 3.9 percent), Japan (up 2.1 percent) and U.S. East (up 1.1 percent).

Through the first 11 months of 2017, visitor spending (up 6.6 percent to $15.15 billion) exceeded the results from the same period last year, bolstered by growth in visitor arrivals (up 4.9 percent to 8,502,545) and average daily spending (up 1.8 percent to $200 per person).

Visitor spending has increased from U.S. West (up 9.8 percent to $5.57 billion), U.S. East (up 10.2 percent to $3.82 billion), Japan (up 8.3 percent to $2.05 billion) and Canada (up 9.2 percent to $902.1 million), but declined from All Other International markets (down five percent to $2.77 billion).

Year-to-date, visitor arrivals have increased from U.S. West (up 4.7 percent to 3,482,253), U.S. East (up 5.8 percent to 1,806,312), Japan (up 5.8 percent to 1,442,675), Canada (up 10.5 percent to 448,936) and “All Other International” markets ( up 0.8 percent to 1,207,789).

“With December being historically a peak month for travel to Hawaii,” said Szigeti, “the state’s tourism industry is poised to surpass all annual records for visitor spending, generated state tax revenue and visitor arrivals when the year-end statistics for 2017 are issued the end of January.”

Visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org

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