Hawai‘i Visitor Spending Grew 6.1 Percent in August 2017

News Release from HTA September 28, 2017

HONOLULU – Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.39 billion in August 2017, an increase of 6.1 percent compared to August 2016, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA).

Total visitor arrivals rose 4.8 percent to 818,581 visitors in August 2017, marked by growth in arrivals from both air service (+4.8% to 815,949) and cruise ships (+39.8% to 2,632).

Hawai‘i’s four largest visitor markets, U.S. West, U.S. East, Japan and Canada, all reported increases in visitor spending and arrivals in August 2017.

The U.S. East market reported the largest gain in visitor spending in August 2017 (+11.7% to $328.3 million) year-over-year. Daily spending (+5% to $211 per person) was higher compared to a year ago and arrivals also grew (+6.6% 159,572) supported by increased air seats from Minneapolis, Dallas and Chicago.

The Japan market continued to realize growth in visitor spending (+9.4% to $231.6 million), visitor arrivals (+5.2% to 160,424) and daily spending (+2% to $224 per person) in August 2017, boosted by the additional direct flights serving Honolulu and Kona that began in prior months.

Spending by U.S. West visitors increased in August 2017 (+1.5% to $489.9 million). Arrivals were up (+3.7% to 342,054), but a shorter length of stay (-3% to 8.51 days) resulted in marginal growth in visitor days (+0.6%). Daily spending (+0.9% to $168 per person) rose slightly versus last year.

The Canada market recorded growth in visitor spending in August 2017 (+6.2% to $51 million) compared to a year ago. Visitor arrivals increased (+6% to 29,542) but daily spending declined (-1.9% to $156 per person) from a year ago.

Combined visitor spending from All Other International markets also increased in August 2017 (+5.7% to $290.5 million), boosted by growth in arrivals (+4.6% to 124,358) and higher daily spending.

All four larger Hawaiian Islands saw growth in visitor spending and arrivals in August 2017 compared to last year.

Total air seats serving Hawai‘i rose in August 2017 (+3.3% to 1,096,537) year-over-year. Double digit growth was realized in scheduled air seats from Japan (+15.6%) and U.S. East (+13.9%), with seats from Other Asia (+0.9%) and the U.S. West (+0.4%) also rising slightly. These increases entirely offset the fewer seats that came from Oceania (-3.3%).

Year-to-Date 2017

Total visitor spending increased through the first eight months of 2017 (+8.5% to $11.34 billion), bolstered by growth in arrivals (+4.7% to 6,315,435) and daily spending (+3.9% to $199 per person).

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