Kauai saw an increase in visitors, and their spending, in July. The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported that 120,166 guests came to the island last month, up 3.2 percent from June. And those people spent $166.7 million, an increase of 10.1
Kauai saw an increase in visitors, and their spending, in July.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported that 120,166 guests came to the island last month, up 3.2 percent from June.
And those people spent $166.7 million, an increase of 10.1 percent from $151.1 million in June.
A total of 835,417 visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands in July, making it the best month ever for visitor arrivals on record, according to HTA. This was a 2.1 percent growth from the previous record of 818,454 visitors in July 2015.
“It’s inspiring to see the second half of 2016 start with a new all-time record for monthly visitor arrivals. Sustained success in tourism is a team effort,” said George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO. “Hawaii’s travel industry partners have been brilliant in consistently meeting the expectations of first-time and repeat visitors, both from the U.S. mainland and internationally. Their collaborative devotion to excellence is the impetus behind Hawaii’s record totals.”
Statewide, total visitor expenditures increased 1.5 percent to $1.4 billion in July compared to the year prior.
For the month, growth in visitor arrivals to Oahu was flat (+0.5 percent) and visitor expenditures were down slightly (-0.6 percent) year-over-year. Maui recorded increases in both arrivals (+4.7 percent) and expenditures (+2.3 percent). The island of Hawaii recorded no growth in arrivals (-0.2 percent) and a slight drop in expenditures (-0.7%).
Through the first seven months of 2016, total visitor arrivals were up 2.5 percent to 5,251,218 and visitor expenditures (+2.9 percent to $9.15 billion) exceeded the same period last year.
There were more visitors from U.S. West (+4.2 percent), U.S. East (+2.1 percent), Japan (+0.8 percent), and all other International markets (+7.1 percent), but fewer visitors from Canada (-10 percent) compared to year-to-date 2015.
Gains in visitor expenditures from U.S. West (+5.5 percent to $3.3 billion), U.S. East (+3.4 percent to $2.4 billion), and all other international markets (+7.5 percent to $1.8 billion) offset losses from Japan (-0.7 percent to $1.1 billion) and Canada (-15.1 percent to $602.6 million).
For the year through July, Kauai has had 703,078 guests, down .4 percent from 706,072 for the same time period last year. Spending, however, rose to $993.5 percent through July, up 6.3 percent from $934.2 percent in 2015. Average per person per day spending through July climbed to $181.5 million, up 5.5 percent from 171.6 percent
“In September we’ll start planning for next year as our industry partners come together at the Hawaii Tourism Conference to collectively address the future of travel for the Hawaiian Islands.
“A primary focus will be how Hawaii can remain foremost in the minds of global travelers, especially millennials” Sziegeti said. “Everyone in Hawaii benefits from a strong, vibrant tourism industry.”
