Visitor spending through the first nine months of 2015 is up in Hawaii, with Kauai leading the way. Spending on Kauai increased 14.9 percent during the first three quarters of 2015, reaching $1.2 billion. Per person per day spending climbed
Visitor spending through the first nine months of 2015 is up in Hawaii, with Kauai leading the way.
Spending on Kauai increased 14.9 percent during the first three quarters of 2015, reaching $1.2 billion. Per person per day spending climbed 11. 4 percent to $179.9, while visitor arrivals through September rose to 887,475, a 4.6 percent increase.
“The increase in tourism on Kauai has benefited many of the businesses here on the island whether or not the business is directly related to tourism,” said Mark Perriello, president of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce.
George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Kauai topped spending growth across the islands.
“Visitor arrivals have remained strong for the first nine months of the year, reaching 6.5 million visitors and pacing just slightly above our projections, he said. “However, growth in spending is beginning to plateau; currently we are only 2.6 percent ahead of last year, reaching $11.3 billion.”
Total arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands achieved a new record for September, with an increase of 4.7 percent to 652,616 visitors, according to the HTA.
Hawaii is expected to see a boost in air seats during the fourth quarter, in part thanks to falling fuel prices. It will welcome three new flights from two new carriers, pushing total air seats to the state to a record 11.8 million for 2015.
Virgin America will begin flying from San Francisco to Honolulu in November and to Kahului in December, and Jin Air, a low-cost carrier from South Korea, will begin service from Seoul to Honolulu in December.
“It is important for us to collaborate with our marketing and industry partners to ensure there is sufficient demand to support these new flights and all of our existing routes,” Szigeti said.
Kauai continues to enjoy a strong year when it comes to visitors from the Mainland.
In Septmber, The Garden Isle welcomed 84,921 visitors, up 4.7 percent from September 2014. Visitors continue to stay on Kauai about seven days per trip, and spent, on average, $1,1943 per trip in September.
Expenditures on Kauai totaled $101.3 million in September, an 8.6 percent increase. Businesses are noticing.
“Many people’s spirits in the business community seem elevated, which I attribute, at least in part, to healthier balance sheets and a more promising financial outlook,” Perriello said.
Expenditures increased for Maui (plus 5.7 percent to $279.1 million), but declined for Oahu (plus 4.7 percent to $560.2 million) and Hawaii Island (minus 6.2 percent to $119.2 million).
All four larger Hawaiian Islands saw growth in arrivals in September. Maui was up 4.3 percent to 177,925; Hawaii Island rose 2.1 percent to 102,160; and Oahu increased 1.3 compared to 416,731.
“With lower domestic fuel prices, we anticipate seeing continued growth from our core U.S. markets,” Szigeti said. However, we will continue to monitor unstable economic conditions in Canada, Japan and China, which could also impact other regions in the Asia-Pacific and our major market areas.”
