Visitor Spending Rose 7.1 Percent to $12.56 Billion in First Three Quarters of 2017

Arrivals Increased 4.9 Percent to 7 Million Visitors

News Release from HTA, October 26, 2017

HONOLULU – Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $12.56 billion in the first three quarters of 2017, an increase of 7.1 percent compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA). Total arrivals rose 4.9 percent to 7,017,268 visitors compared to a year ago, boosted by growth in arrivals from both air service (+4.7% to 6,931,187) and cruise ships (+23.2% to 86,081).

Year-to-date through September 2017, Hawai‘i’s four largest visitor markets, U.S. West (+10.5% to $4.60 billion), U.S. East (+10.4% to $3.27 billion), Japan (+11% to $1.68 billion) and Canada (+9.8% to $748.8 million), all reported strong gains in total visitor spending, along with increased daily spending, compared to last year. Visitor spending from All Other International markets declined in the first three quarters of 2017 (-6.5% to $2.24 billion) due to lower daily spending.

Visitor arrivals from U.S. West (+4.4% to 2,864,784), U.S. East (+5.7% to 1,535,934), Japan (+6.7% to 1,175,174) and Canada (+9.6% to 367,655) all increased in the first three quarters of 2017 versus last year.

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

Through the first nine months of 2017, total air capacity to the Hawaiian Islands increased slightly (+0.8% to 9,165,745 seats) compared to the same period last year.

September 2017

For the month of September 2017, total visitor spending gained 1.9 percent to $1.21 billion year-over-year. Visitor spending increased from U.S. West (+20.9% to $449.2 million) and Canada (+6.9% to $42.6 million), but declined from U.S. East (-0.6% to $275.9 million) and All Other International markets (-17.9% to $255.7 million). The Japan market recorded no growth (-0.3% to $191.4 million) compared to September 2016.

Total arrivals grew 5.1 percent in September 2017 compared to a year ago. More visitors came from U.S. West (+10.4%), Japan (+6.5%), Canada (+17.5%) and All Other International markets (+1.4%), but fewer visitors arrived from U.S. East (-4.5%).

Statewide average daily spending of $206 per person was lower (-1.3%) in September 2017 versus last year. Visitors from U.S. West (+11.3%) and U.S. East (+5.1%) spent more in September 2017, while visitors from Japan (-6%), Canada (-6.7%) and All Other International markets (-16.6%) spent less compared to a year ago.

Visitor spending increased on Maui, Kaua‘i and the island of Hawai‘i, but declined on O‘ahu versus last September. All four islands saw growth in visitor arrivals compared to a year ago. 

There were 925,203 total air seats serving the Hawaiian Islands in September 2017, a gain of 4.2 percent versus September 2016. Growth in scheduled seats from Japan (+6.7%), U.S. West (+6.2%) and Canada (+2.4%) offset fewer seats from Oceania (-8.8%) and U.S. East (-3.4%).

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