LIHUE — Hawaii’s tourism agency says a record 8.6 million people traveled to the islands last year. That’s more than 4 percent higher than the year before, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said Thursday. Annual visitor spending rose more than 2
LIHUE — Hawaii’s tourism agency says a record 8.6 million people traveled to the islands last year.
That’s more than 4 percent higher than the year before, the Hawaii Tourism Authority said Thursday.
Annual visitor spending rose more than 2 percent to $15 billion in 2015. That’s also a record.
For 2015, Kauai saw 1.16 million visitors, up 4.3 percent from 1.11 million in 2014.
Visitor expenditures totaled 1.6 billion, up 13.8 percent from $1.4 billion in 2014. Visitor spending per day in 2015 on Kauai rose 10 percent to $180, while the average length of stay fell slightly to 7.63 from 7.70.
For December, Kauai had 103,580 visitors, up 2.3 percent from 2014. Total expenditures totaled $148.7 million, a 5.6 percent increase.
Sue Kanoho, Kauai Visitor Bureau executive director, said Kauai experienced one of its best years for tourism. She credited many partners for that success.
“It is truly a joint effort in working together,” Kanoho said.
Oahu and Maui arrivals hit new highs, but the number of visitors to Hawaii Island and Kauai fell below records marked in 2007.
Tourism authority CEO George Szigeti says 2016 is off to a strong start. He says the agency is aggressively competing for the attention of global travelers.
Kanoho believes this year could be even better for visitors coming to Kauai, starting with the return of Island Air to Kauai and more interisland flights.
As well, the International Union for Conservation of Nature conference will be held in Hawaii in September.
It is the world’s largest conservation event and unites leaders from many fields to discuss solutions to environment and development challenges.
Efforts are under way to bring leaders of the IUCN to Kauai for pre- and post-tours to experience the National Tropical Botanical Garden and see the conservation efforts happening around the island.
