Hawai‘i Visitor Spending Increased 12.3 Percent in March 2017

Japan Market Led the Growth in Spending and Arrivals

News Release from HTA, April 29, 2017

HONOLULU – Visitors to Hawai‘i spent $1.4 billion in March 2017, an increase of 12.3 percent compared to March 2016, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA). The Japan market led the growth in visitor spending (+$20.8% to $187.2 million), driven by year-over-year increases in visitor days (+13.1%), average length of stay (+3.6%), and daily spending (+6.9% to $228 per person).

Daily spending statewide averaged $201 per person in March 2017, up from $182 per person last year, with increases in most visitor markets.

Visitor arrivals to Hawai‘i increased (+2.1% to 802,802) in March 2017, with Japan again generating the highest rate of growth (+9.1% to 136,735) among Hawai‘i’s major markets. Spending and arrivals by visitors from Japan have escalated during the first quarter of 2017 due to increased air service to Honolulu and the launch of direct service to Kona from Haneda in December 2016.

In addition to increased arrivals by air (+1.7% to 792,671), there was strong growth in arrivals by cruise ships (+47.4% or +3,257 visitors) in March 2017.

The island of Hawai‘i experienced a considerable gain in visitor spending (+25.5% to $203.3 million) and double-digit growth in visitor arrivals from U.S. West, U.S. East, Japan and Canada. Both Kona and Hilo recorded higher visitation in March 2017, as the island benefited from more direct air service from the U.S. and Japan.

More visitors went to multiple islands (+11.6%) in March 2017 compared to a year ago, and each island received substantially more visitors for day-trips1 . The strong growth in cruise visitors contributed to these increases.

There was a small decline in total air seats (-0.6% to 1,051,552) serving the Hawaiian Islands in March 2017 compared to last year. Growth in scheduled seats from U.S. East (+10.8%) and Japan (+9.1%) were offset by declines from Other Asia (-11.2%), Canada (-10%), Oceania (-8.7%), and U.S. West (-1.4%).

Year-to-Date First Quarter 2017

Visitor spending statewide rose (+10.4% to $4.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2017, boosted by growth in total visitor arrivals (+3.1% to 2,264,903) and higher daily spending (+7.1% to $205 per person).

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