KOLOA — The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority announced Tuesday that Kaua‘i experienced a 29.4-percent increase to $99.3 million in visitor spending during October, representing a seventh-straight month of double-digit increases over the same period of 2009. However, tourists and retailers at
KOLOA — The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority announced Tuesday that Kaua‘i experienced a 29.4-percent increase to $99.3 million in visitor spending during October, representing a seventh-straight month of double-digit increases over the same period of 2009.
However, tourists and retailers at Old Koloa Town were telling a different story Friday.
“These days, things are tough,” Fine Art and Framing owner Christian Riso said. “Sales are definitely not 25 percent higher than last year, but things are a little better. By far, it’s not even a 10-percent increase. We’re in yo-yo land.”
Ryan Stiglmeir, manager of Crazy Shirts, also said sales have improved, but it’s still slow. He estimated his increase in business to be closer to 5 percent.
Sales associate Michelle Corpuz at Paradise Clothing, which sells Jams World and aloha wear, said “things have really slowed down over the last year.” She has noticed fewer tourists frequenting Old Koloa Town as well as fewer sales.
A random sidewalk survey of tourist attitudes revealed travelers are looking for deep discounts. Even when they find them, they are hesitant to buy because of airlines’ new baggage requirements and fees.
Year-to-date, Kaua‘i visitor spending has increased 12.5 percent to $937.6 million, says HTA. The agency’s report for October 2010 shows nearly all areas of Kaua‘i tourism are continuing to improve.
“While October can traditionally be a shoulder period, the positive numbers recorded have given many in the visitor industry a lift that our joint marketing efforts are starting to pay off,” Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau Executive Director Sue Kanoho said. “Notable was the double-digit increase in Canadians coming to Kaua‘i, showing an increase of 18.7 percent year to date.”
Kanoho and county Office of Economic Development Director George Costa recently returned from a marketing blitz in Canada, which included Vancouver and Calgary, and found there was a lot of interest in the Garden Island.
“Those in Calgary were looking for new experiences in Hawai‘i and found Kaua‘i a very good match,” Kanoho said. “The week-long promotion focused on the return of WestJet’s service between Vancouver and Lihu‘e starting early December and included consumer events as well as media appointments.”
HTA said Canadian arrivals in October increased 17.2 percent for all islands compared to the same month last year; however, there was a decrease in their average daily spending, from $159 in 2009 to $150.
‘No doubt, the 8-percent increase in visitor arrivals compared to a year ago signals that our visitor industry is on the rebound.’
George Costa
Director, county Office of Economic Development
Compared to the same month last year, Kaua‘i’s total visitor arrivals have increased 7.9 percent to 79,009 and visitor days on island are up 10.4 percent to 570,298.
Year-to-date, arrivals have increased 3.1 percent to 811,880, and visitor days have increased 4.6 percent to 6,032,609. United States East arrivals have grown 2.3 percent to 271,588, while Japan (16,846) and U.S. West (412,530) arrivals remain flat.
Total air seats throughout Hawai‘i increased 8.9 percent to 745,820 compared to October of last year, and Lihu‘e Airport flight capacity is up 11.4 percent. There was a 12.6-percent increase in Kaua‘i-only air seats (40,548).
Year-to-date total air seats to Kaua‘i have increased 3.1 percent to 811,880, and Kaua‘i-only air seats have increased 5.8 percent to 423,401.
Cruise-ship visitors declined 10.5 percent to 19,096 compared to the same month last year, but increased by 1.5 percent to 157,384 year to date.
“The entire visitor industry continues to work diligently to market Kaua‘i as the affordable destination, as well as its breathtaking beauty that so many visitors dream about and save their hard-earned money to be able to take that once-in-a-lifetime vacation,” Costa said.
“No doubt, the 8-percent increase in visitor arrivals compared to a year ago signals that our visitor industry is on the rebound. A year ago, we projected a modest, 1-percent to 2-percent increase for the year overall, and seeing a 3-percent increase makes us feel even more confident going into 2011.”
• Vanessa Van Voorhis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or by e-mailing vanvoorhis@kauaipubco.com.
