David Y. Ige

Statement by George D. Szigeti, President and CEO, Hawaii Tourism Authority

RE: Hawaii’s Visitor Statistics Results for November 2017

HONOLULU – George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), issued the following statement regarding Hawaii’s visitor statistics results for November 2017.

“Strong travel demand from North America, Asia and Oceania translated into an excellent month for the state’s tourism industry in November. Air seat capacity rose 5 percent, the largest monthly increase thus far in 2017, and visitor arrivals grew 7.3 percent, which, except for April at 7.5 percent, was also the highest rate of growth for the year.

“Visitor spending of $1.29 billion in November pushed the state’s total through 11 months to $15.15 billion, which exceeds every full-year total up to 2016. State tax revenue generated by the tourism industry has risen to $1.77 billion, which is $109.5 million more than a year ago at this time.

“With December being historically a peak month for travel to Hawaii, the state’s tourism industry is poised to surpass all annual records for visitor spending, generated state tax revenue and visitor arrivals when the year-end statistics for 2017 are issued the end of January.

“We are in the closing days of what has been an extraordinary year for Hawaii’s tourism industry and continued success is promising as we begin a new year. Within the last two weeks, four carriers – Virgin America, Scoot, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines – have either launched new routes or significantly expanded existing service to Hawaii. In the next few months, Hawaiian Airlines will be launching daily service on four routes between the mainland and neighbor islands.

“Mahalo to all of tourism’s stakeholders for contributing to the success of Hawaii’s leading industry. From Governor Ige and our elected officials at the State Capitol to the tourism professionals on the front lines who share their aloha daily with our visitors, everyone has a valuable role in helping tourism to prosper for the benefit of residents and families statewide.”

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Media Contacts:
Charlene Chan
Director of Communications
Hawaii Tourism Authority
808-973-2272 (o)
808-781-7733 (m)
[email protected]

Patrick Dugan
Senior Vice President
Anthology Marketing Group
808-539-3411 (o)
808-741-2712 (m)
[email protected]

For Immediate Release: December 28, 2017
HTA Release (17-51)

Hawaii Visitor Spending Increased 4.5 Percent to $1.29 Billion in November 2017

HONOLULU – Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $1.29 billion in November 2017, an increase of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). Total visitor arrivals grew 7.3 percent to 748,303 visitors, comprising of arrivals from air service (+7.5% to 738,519) and cruise ships (-1.2% to 9,784).

Spending by visitors from the U.S. West market rose (+8.7% to $500.9 million) in November. Both total visitor arrivals (+9.1% to 322,195) and average daily spending by each visitor (+1.6% to $176 per person) increased from last November.

The U.S. East market reported a gain in visitor spending (+5.2% to $266 million) in November, boosted by increases in visitor arrivals (+4% to 132,683) and average daily spending (+2.4% to $210 per person).

The Japan market saw a decrease in visitor spending (-6.2% to $183.3 million) in November. While visitor arrivals (+0.2% to 130,168) and average length of stay (+0.7% to 5.64 days) were comparable to a year ago, average daily spending declined (-7% to $250 per person).

There was strong growth in visitor spending from the Canada market (+11.5% to $96.4 million) in November. A substantial increase in visitor arrivals (+18.4% to 51,785) offset a decrease in average daily spending (-3.2% to $156 per person) compared to last November.

Combined visitor spending from All Other International markets increased (+2.2% to $239 million) in November, boosted by growth in visitor arrivals (+11.9% to 101,688) year-over-year.

All four larger Hawaiian Islands saw growth in visitor spending and arrivals in November compared to last year.

Total air seats serving Hawaii rose (+5% to 964,993) in November year-over-year, with increases in scheduled air seats from Canada (+21.4%), Other Asia (+20.1%), Oceania (+6.3%), U.S. West (+3.9%), Japan (+2.1%) and U.S. East (+1.1%).

Year-to-Date 2017

Through the first 11 months of 2017, visitor spending (+6.6% to $15.15 billion) exceeded the results from the same period last year, bolstered by growth in visitor arrivals (+4.9% to 8,502,545) and average daily spending (+1.8% to $200 per person).

Visitor spending has increased from U.S. West (+9.8% to $5.57 billion), U.S. East (+10.2% to $3.82 billion), Japan (+8.3% to $2.05 billion) and Canada (+9.2% to $902.1 million), but declined from All Other International markets (-5% to $2.77 billion).

Year-to-date, visitor arrivals have increased from U.S. West (+4.7% to 3,482,253), U.S. East (+5.8% to 1,806,312), Japan (+5.8% to 1,442,675), Canada (+10.5% to 448,936) and All Other International markets (+0.8% to 1,207,789).

Other Highlights:

• U.S. West: In November, there was growth in visitor arrivals from the Mountain (+11%) and Pacific (+9.4%) regions compared to a year ago, boosted by more visitors from Utah (+25.3%), Colorado (+11.4%), California (+10.5%) and Washington (+8.3%). Through the first 11 months, arrivals rose from the Mountain (+6.1%) and Pacific (+4.1%) regions compared to last year.
• U.S. East: Visitor arrivals increased from every region in November except the East South Central region (-11.9%). Year-to-date, arrivals were up from all regions compared to the first 11 months of 2016.
• Japan: Fewer visitors stayed in hotels (-1.9%) in November while condominium usage rose (+14.9%) compared to a year ago. November marked the eighth consecutive month of double-digit growth in condominium stays.
• Canada: Significantly more visitors stayed in hotels (+25.4%) in November versus last year. Stays in rental homes (+15.5%) and timeshare units (+13%) also increased in November compared to a year ago.
• MCI: Visitors coming to Hawaii for meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) increased in November (+14.7% to 39,612) year-over-year. Significantly more visitors came for conventions (+74.5% to 22,184), but fewer visitors traveled on incentives (-28% to 11,671). Contributing to the growth in convention visitors were three corporate events held at the Hawaii Convention Center with more than 5,000 delegates combined. Through the first 11 months of 2017, total MCI visitors declined (-1.8% to 454,326) compared to the same period last year.

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