Hawai’i continues to be a popular tourism destination. 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.
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) announced that 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.
U.S. West: In the first three quarters of 2017, visitor arrivals increased from the Mountain (+6.2%) and Pacific (+3.6%) regions compared to last year. There was moderate growth in hotel (+5.6%) and timeshare (+2.4%) usage, while stays in rental homes (+10.8%) and bed and breakfast properties (+10.4%) rose sharply compared to the same period in 2016. Daily spending averaged $178 per person in the first three quarters of 2017, up from $166 per person versus the same timeframe in 2016. Lodging, food and beverage, entertainment and recreation and shopping expenses were all higher compared to last year.
In September 2017, growth in arrivals from the Mountain region (+11.5%) was led by increases from Nevada (+16.4%), Utah (+12.9%) and Colorado (+8.8%). From the Pacific region (+10.6%), more visitors came from California (+9.9%), Oregon (+15.5%) and Washington (+13%).
U.S. East: Year-to-date through September 2017, visitor arrivals increased from all regions, highlighted by growth from the two largest regions, South Atlantic (+8.3%) and East North Central (+4.3%), compared to a year ago. Usage of bed and breakfast properties (+14.1%) and rental homes (+13%) rose significantly. Average daily spending rose to $210 per person (+5.3%). Lodging, food and beverage, shopping, and entertainment and recreation expenses all increased, while transportation expenses were similar to a year ago.
In September 2017, visitor arrivals increased from the East South Central (+3.3%) and West South Central (+2.3%) regions, but declined from the New England (-11.4%), East North Central (-10.3%), West North Central (-7.6%), Mid-Atlantic (-6.3%) and South Atlantic (-3.2%) regions compared to September 2016.
Japan: The launch of direct air service to Kona in December 2016 and increased air service to Honolulu has supported growth in visitor spending and arrivals through the first nine months of 2017. Significantly more visitors stayed in condominiums (+24.2%) and timeshares (+21.2%) in the first three quarters of 2017 compared to the same period last year. More visitors made their own travel arrangements (+29.5%), while fewer visitors purchased group tours (-10%) and package trips (-2%).
Daily visitor spending rose to $238 per person (+2.4%) in the first three quarters of 2017. Lodging, food and beverage, and transportation expenses were higher than a year ago but shopping expenses declined.
Canada: Visitor spending and arrivals increased in the first nine months of 2017, as the market continued to recover from sharp declines in both categories for much of 2016. Significantly more visitors stayed in rental homes (+25.4%) in the first three quarters of 2017 compared to last year. Daily spending by visitors increased to $163 per person (+2%). Visitors spent more on lodging and entertainment and recreation, while expenses for shopping, transportation and food and beverage were similar to last year.
Australia: In the first three quarters of 2017, visitor arrivals decreased (-1.3% to 240,486) versus the same period in 2016. Average daily visitor spending also declined (-4.9% to $277 per person per day). While shopping expenses increased, lodging, food and beverage, and transportation expenses decreased. In September 2017, arrivals declined (-5.8% to 34,407) compared to a year ago.
New Zealand: Visitor arrivals increased through the first nine months of 2017 (+5.3% to 51,014) compared to the same period last year. In September 2017, arrivals dropped slightly (-0.6% to 7,929) year-over-year.
China: Visitor arrivals declined through the first three quarters of 2017 (-9% to 122,425) and also in September 2017 (-3.5% to 12,280) compared to a year ago. Daily spending by visitors decreased to $329 per person (-14.6%) in the first three quarters of 2017 versus last year, but continued to be the highest among Hawai‘i’s visitor markets. Spending was lower in all categories (lodging, shopping, food and beverage, entertainment and recreation) compared to the same period last year.
Korea: Visitor arrivals decreased (-2.6% to 178,382) in the first nine months of 2017, as did average daily spending at $278 per person (-9.1%) versus the same period in 2016. Shopping expenses increased, but lodging, food and beverage, and transportation expenses declined. In September 2017 arrivals were up (+5.8% to 22,883) versus last year.
Taiwan: Visitor arrivals rose (+1.9% to 14,324) through the first three quarters of 2017 compared to 2016. Arrivals decreased in September 2017 (-6.8% to 1,426) compared to last September.
Europe: Visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland declined in the first three quarters of 2017 (-4% to 106,359) and in September 2017 (-8.5% to 14,366) versus last year.
Latin America: Visitor arrivals from Mexico, Brazil and Argentina decreased in the first three quarters of 2017 (-6.8% to 18,080) and in September 2017 (-6.9% to 1,717) compared to last year
