LIHU‘E — There were fewer visitors to the island of Kaua‘i in March. But the people who did visit spent some serious money, in turn setting a new high for the month.
LIHU‘E — There were fewer visitors to the island of Kaua‘i in March. But the people who did visit spent some serious money, in turn setting a new high for the month.
Total visitor spending was $238.1 million in March, compared with a previous high of $222.5 million in March 2023 and $152.6 million in pre-pandemic March 2019. That represented gains of 7.0 percent and 56.1 percent, respectively, according to a monthly report from the state of Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development &Tourism (DBEDT).
In the same periods of time, the number of people who visited the island fell to 116,437 from 122,585 and 122,876 for drops of 5 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively.
Elsewhere in the Hawaiian Island chain, visitor spending rose in O‘ahu, surged on Hawai‘i Island and retreated on Maui.
Total visitor spending on O‘ahu was $753 million in March, up 3.0 percent from $731.4 million in March 2023 and up 11.9 percent from $672.9 million percent in March 2019.
Visitor spending on Hawai‘i Island jumped to $282.1 million in March from $236.9 million in March 2023 and from $200.7 million in March 2019 for gains of 19.1 percent and 40.5 percent, respectively.
Visitor spending on Maui was well off from last year, but up nicely from the pre-pandemic period. Spending totaled $469.4 million in March, down 24.3 percent from $619.9 million in March 2023, but up 5.9 percent from $443.3 million in March 2019.
