Visitor Spending Increased 10.4 Percent to Record $1.2 Billion for September

IUCN, Other Conventions Contributed to Strong Showing in September

News Release from HTA, October 27, 2016

HONOLULU – Total visitor spending in the Hawaiian Islands increased 10.4 percent to $1.2 billion in September 2016, setting a new record for the month of September and making it the fourth straight month of year-over-year increases, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA).

Visitor spending in September 2016 shot up from U.S. East (+29% to $272.7 million), rose dramatically from All Other International Markets (+13.7% to $295.7 million), and showed solid growth from U.S. West (+2.8% to $364 million), Japan (+3.4% to $191.9 million), and Canada (+5.5% to $39.2 million) compared to September 2015.

Statewide average daily spending rose to $203 per person (+4.6%) in September 2016, as visitors from most markets spent more on a daily basis, including Canada (+11.1%), U.S. East (+9.6%), Japan (+3%), U.S. West (+0.6%), and All Other International Markets (+0.9%) versus the year prior.

Total visitor arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands also set a new record for the month of September with 666,605 visitors in September 2016, a 3 percent increase from a year ago. September marked 20 consecutive months of year-over-year growth in arrivals, extending a streak from February 2015. Total visitor days1 rose by 5.6 percent.

A total of 656,729 visitors arrived on airlines (+5.3%), while 9,875 visitors came to Hawai‘i via cruise ships (-57.6%). Leading the growth in air arrivals were visitors from U.S. East (+19% to 127,077), All Other International Markets (+6.6% to 126,594), and U.S. West (+3.1% to 249,795), which offset fewer visitors coming from Canada (-3.4% to 19,940) and Japan (-1.6% to 133,623).

Meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) business was exceptional for Hawai‘i in September 2016, highlighted by the IUCN World Conservation Congress (9,000+ delegates) and CPCU convention of insurance underwriters (11,000+ delegates). The Hawai‘i Tourism Conference, other conventions, and a strong increase in incentive visitors also contributed significantly to the boost in visitor growth from MCI business.

In September 2016, all four larger Hawaiian Islands saw growth in visitor arrivals and expenditures compared to last September. Total air capacity to Hawai‘i rose slightly (+0.6% to 887,846 seats) in September 2016 compared to the year prior. Growth in scheduled seats from Other Asia (+20.1%), Oceania (+6.6%), U.S. East (+2.2%), and U.S. West (+1.6%) offset declines from Canada (-7.8%) and Japan (-7.4%).

Year-to-Date 2016

Through the first nine months of 2016, total visitor arrivals (+2.6% to 6,698,545) and visitor spending (+3.7% to $11.6 billion) exceeded the same period last year. Arrivals increased from U.S. West (+4.1%), U.S. East (+3.5%), and All Other International Markets (+6.5%), but declined from Canada (-8.9%). Year-to-date growth in arrivals from Japan (+0.3%) was flat compared to 2015.

There were gains in visitor spending from U.S. West (+5.4% to $4.1 billion), U.S. East (+5.7% to $2.9 billion), and All Other International Markets (+6.6% to $2.3 billion), but no growth from Japan (+0.3% to $1.5 billion), and a decrease in spending by visitors from Canada (-13.2% to $689.7 million).

Through September 2016, visitor arrivals increased for Maui (+3.7%), O‘ahu (+2.1%), and the island of Hawai‘i (+1.3%) while growth for Kaua‘i (+0.2%) was similar to last year. Visitor spending grew for Maui (+9.3% to $3.4 billion), the island of Hawai‘i (+9.2% to $1.5 billion), and Kaua‘i (+7.7% to $1.2 billion), but declined for O‘ahu (-2.1% to $5.4 billion).

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