Hawai‘i Visitor Spending Increased 8.7 Percent to $8.4 Billion in First Half of 2017

Visitor Arrivals Increased 4.3 Percent to 4.6 Million

News Release from HTA, July 27, 2017

HONOLULU – Visitors in the first half of 2017 spent a total of $8.4 billion in the Hawaiian Islands, an increase of 8.7 percent compared to the first half of 2016, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA). Total visitor arrivals rose 4.3 percent to 4,604,976 compared to a year ago, boosted by growth in arrivals by air (+4% to 4,534,893) and arrivals by cruise ships (+23.9% to 70,083).

Through the first half of 2017, Hawai‘i’s four largest visitor markets, U.S. West (+11.5% to $3.1 billion), U.S. East (+11.3% to $2.2 billion), Japan (+13.6% to $1.1 billion) and Canada (+10.4% to $608.7 million), all reported double-digit gains in visitor spending. Visitor arrivals from U.S. West (+3.3%), U.S. East (+7.9%), Japan (+6.9%) and Canada (+7%) also increased from last year. In addition, daily spending by these visitors was higher than the first half of 2016.

Visitor spending from All Other International markets declined in the first half of 2017 (-3.8% to $1.4 billion) year-over-year, due to decreased visitor arrivals (-4.3%) and lower daily spending.

All four larger Hawaiian Islands realized growth in visitor spending and arrivals in the first half of 2017 compared to a year ago. The island of Hawai‘i was the only island to report double-digit growth in both visitor spending and arrivals, supported by increased direct air service from the U.S. and Japan.

June 2017

Total visitor spending increased 3.7 percent to $1.4 billion in June 2017 versus a year ago. Visitor spending increased from U.S. East (+10.9% to $427 million), Japan (+9.3% to $183.5 million) and Canada (+18.4% to $37.2 million), but declined from U.S. West (-1.7% to $557.1 million). All Other International markets recorded no growth (-0.4% to $243 million) in June 2017.

Total arrivals rose 4.5 percent in June 2017 with more visitors coming from U.S. East (+10.3%), U.S. West (+2.7%), Japan (+7%) and Canada (+7.2%), but fewer visitors from All Other International markets (-1%) compared to a year ago.

Statewide average daily spending of $193 per person (+0.1%) in June 2017 was similar to last year. Visitors from Canada (+8.9%), U.S. East (+3%) and Japan (+0.8%) spent more, while visitors from U.S. West (-2.5%) and All Other International markets (-2.6%) spent less compared to June 2016.

All four larger Hawaiian Islands recorded year-over-year growth in visitor spending and visitor arrivals in June 2017.

There were 1,066,012 total air seats to the Hawaiian Islands in June 2017, an increase of 1.7 percent versus June 2016. Growth in scheduled seats from U.S. East (+18%), Japan (+7.8%), Other Asia (+3%) and Canada (+1.5%) offset declines from Oceania (-2.8%) and U.S. West (-1.4%).

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