The Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) began its 100th year of tourism marketing by expressing confidence about 2003, as January visitor counts to Hawai’i surged. The State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) recently released its January
The Hawai’i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) began its 100th year of tourism marketing by expressing confidence about 2003, as January visitor counts to Hawai’i surged.
The State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) recently released its January 2003 visitor figures, showing an overall increase in total visitor days of 12 percent compared to January 2002. In addition, visitor arrivals rose by 11.6 percent, with domestic visitors increasing by 8.6 percent and international visitors growing impressively by 17.4 percent.
Tony Vericella, HVCB President and CEO, was encouraged by the strong showing of January’s visitors counts.
“The resurgence of visitor arrivals to Hawai’i reflects the effectiveness of the industry’s marketing efforts post 9/11,” he said. “It is encouraging to see that momentum carried over into the new year. The marketing and promotional programs supported by HTA and implemented by HVCB and its Island Chapters will continue to produce positive results for Hawai’i.”
Vericella said that it is difficult to gauge how much of an impact the impending war in the Middle East will have on Hawai’i’s tourism industry.
“As the industry proceeds through the present period of economic and political uncertainty, the momentum observed in the January numbers is especially heartening,” Vericella added.
For more information about Hawai’i, The Islands of Aloha, the public can visit HVCB’s Website at http://goHawai’i.com or call 1-800-GOHAWAII.
