Hawaii Visitor Statistics Released for January 2020

News Release from HTA, February 27, 2020

HONOLULU – Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent $1.71 billion in January 2020, an increase of 5.0 percent compared to January 2019, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Visitor spending includes lodging, interisland airfare, shopping, food, car rental and other expenses while in Hawaii.

Tourism dollars from the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) helped to fund a number of community events statewide during January, such as the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii’s New Year’s Ohana Festival, and sporting events like the Polynesian Bowl and the Hula Bowl.

In January, visitor spending increased from U.S. West (+11.2% to $621.7 million), U.S. East (+9.6% to $507.4 million) and Japan (+7.1% to $184.4 million), but declined from Canada (-4.3% to $160.4 million) and All Other International Markets (-12.2% to $234.2 million) compared to a year ago.

On a statewide level, average daily spending by visitors in January rose to $205 per person (+2.9%). Visitors from U.S. East (+3.4% to $225), U.S. West (+3.3% to $186), Canada (+2.3% to $176), Japan (+0.8% to $240) and All Other International Markets (+2.8% to $226) spent more compared to January 2019.

A total of 862,574 visitors came to Hawaii in January, an increase of 5.1 percent compared to a year ago. Total visitor days rose 2.0 percent. The average daily census of total visitors in the Hawaiian Islands on any given day in January was 269,421, up 2.0 percent.

Visitor arrivals by air service increased in January to 852,037 (+5.3%), with growth from U.S. West (+10.9%), U.S. East (+9.8%) and Japan (+6.9%) offsetting decreases from Canada (-4.9%) and All Other International Markets (-12.1%). Arrivals by cruise ships declined 8.6 percent to 10,538 visitors.

In January, Oahu recorded decreased visitor spending (-1.4% to $701.6 million) as visitor arrivals grew (+4.2% to 512,621), but daily spending was lower (-2.3%). Visitor spending on Maui increased (+7.7% to $510.7 million), boosted by growth in visitor arrivals (+3.6% to 242,472) and higher daily spending (+6.3%). The island of Hawaii reported increases in visitor spending (+14.1% to $290.5 million), visitor arrivals (+9.4% to 163,530) and daily spending (+5.6%). Kauai also saw positive growth in visitor spending (+8.7% to $191.3 million), visitor arrivals (+7.3% to 113,847) and daily spending (+8.9%) compared to a year ago.

A total of 1,202,300 trans-Pacific air seats serviced the Hawaiian Islands in January, an increase of 6.0 percent from January 2019. Growth in air seat capacity from U.S. East (+29.4%), U.S. West (+7.7%) and Japan (+1.2%) offset fewer air seats from Other Asia (-13.0%), Canada (-9.0%) and Oceania (-6.6%).

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