Results from a recently released survey on visitor spending from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) show an overall increase in average visitor spending on the Neighbor Islands in 2003. Average daily spending by visitors to
Results from a recently released survey on visitor spending from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) show an overall increase in average visitor spending on the Neighbor Islands in 2003.
Average daily spending by visitors to Maui increased by 7.5 percent in 2003 compared to the previous year (to $173 per person), while Kaua‘i visitors spent 2.8 percent more (to $147 per person).
Visitor spending remained stable on the Big Island at $141 per day.
Visitors generally spent about twice as much on lodging than on food and beverages. Respondents on Maui spent about $77 per person on lodging, compared to $58 on Kaua‘i, and $55 on the Big Island.
Expenditures on food and beverage averaged $35 per person on Maui, $31 on Kaua‘i, and $29 on the Big Island.
Other out-of-state visitor characteristics for the Neighbor Islands include:
Repeat vs. First Time Visitors
Fifty-six percent of the out-of-state visitors surveyed on Maui were repeat visitors while first time visitors made up the majority of all travelers to Kaua‘i, and the Big Island.
U.S. West Visitors
More than half of the respondents on Maui and over 42 percent of the visitors surveyed on Kaua‘i and the Big Island were from the U.S. West.
Average Length of Stay
Visitors to Maui (8.93 days) and the Big Island (8.13 days) increased by 0.6 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, over 2002 figures.
Purpose of Trip
Kaua‘i hosted the largest percentage of visitors who got married or came on honeymoons (11.2 percent).
The Big Island hosted the largest percentage of visitors who came for conventions, conferences and incentives, as well as the largest share of out-of-state visitors visiting friends or relatives.
