Hawaii Visitor Statistics Released for May 2019

News Release from HTA, June 27, 2019

HONOLULU – Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.39 billion in May 2019, a decrease of 2.1 percent compared to the same month last year, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).

Tourism dollars from the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) helped to fund several community events and initiatives statewide in May, including the 42nd Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 92nd Annual City & County of Honolulu Lei Day Celebration, Ka‘ū Coffee Festival, Parade of Farms, and Maui Matsuri.

In May, visitor spending increased from U.S. West (+6.3% to $558.9 million) and Canada (+3.2% to $47.1 million), but declined from U.S. East (-2.2% to $388.9 million), Japan (-1.5% to $168.2 million) and All Other International Markets (-19.4% to $225.4 million) compared to a year ago.

On a statewide level, average daily visitor spending was down (-4.2% to $199 per person) in May year-over-year. Visitors from Canada spent more per day (+7.2% to $170 per person), while travelers spent less from U.S. West (-1.2% to $173), U.S. East (-2.8% to $212), Japan (-1.2% to $242), and All Other International Markets (-10.2% to $246).

Total visitor arrivals increased 4.6 percent to 841,376 visitors in May, supported by growth in arrivals from both air service (+4.3% to 830,038) and cruise ships (+42.5% to 11,338). Total visitor days[1] increased 2.2 percent. The average daily census[2], or the number of visitors on any given day in May, was 226,215, up 2.2 percent compared to a year ago.

Visitor arrivals by air service increased in May from U.S. West (+11.7% to 387,132) and U.S. East (+4.4% to 196,744), but declined from Japan (-2.1% to 118,254), Canada (-2.6% to 25,794) and All Other International Markets (-10.4% to 102,114).

Among the four larger islands, visitor spending in May on Oahu rose slightly (+0.8% to $674.8 million) with visitor arrivals also increasing (+3.2% to 503,905) compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, visitor spending on Maui decreased (-1.4% to $397.7 million) despite growth in visitor arrivals (+4.3% to 248,573). This was also the case for the island of Hawaii, as visitor spending declined (-11.6% to $153.7 million), while visitor arrivals increased (+5.0% to 138,520). Kauai recorded decreases in both visitor spending (-8.5% to $149.2 million) and visitor arrivals (-1.6% to 111,196).

A total of 1,118,421 trans-Pacific air seats serviced the Hawaiian Islands in May, up 2.2 percent from a year ago. Growth in air seats from U.S. West (+5.4%) and Canada (+4.5%) offset declines from Oceania (-7.3%), Japan (-5.2%) and Other Asia Markets (-3.3%). There was no growth in seat capacity from U.S. East (-0.4%) compared to May 2018.

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[1] Aggregate number of days stayed by all visitors.

[2] Average daily census is the average number of visitors present on a single day.

SA: Hawaii visitor spending continues to drop as arrivals grow