Kaua‘i’s sizzling summer

Travel-industry experts are expecting this summer to be an exceptionally strong tourist season nationwide, and Hawai‘i is expected to be the third most-popular destination behind California and Florida.

According to the Travel Industry Association, Florida will get 38 percent of America’s travelers, with California drawing another 29 percent, Hawai‘i a distant third at 16 percent, New York at 15 percent, and Colorado at 12 percent.

Hawai‘i is on track to see a record $11.3 billion in visitor spending this year, 8 percent more than last year, and tourist numbers could recall the year 2000, when 7 million visitors came to Hawai‘i.

So how will Kaua‘i fare?

“All the hotels are reporting a very strong summer,” said Margy Parker, executive director of the Poipu Beach Resort Association.

Indeed, some here are predicting hotel occupancy rates of over 90 percent through July and August — which would set a record for occupancy here.

But Parker said that, in terms of arrivals, Kaua‘i won’t reach its pre-Hurricane ‘Iniki level this year.

Nearly 1.27 million people came to Kaua‘i in 1990, two years before the devastating storm hit, she said.

“We got close to a million last year, and might just break a million this year,” Parker said.

As long as people continue to fly, Kaua‘i will do well, Parker said. Lihu‘e Airport will see 48 direct flights weekly in July and August, along with boosted inter-island service by Aloha, Hawaiian and Island Air.

Meanwhile, pre-Sept. 11, 2001 arrivals levels are predicted statewide — a mark that Kaua‘i already beat back in May, when the average daily visitor count topped 19,000, up just slightly over the previous high of 18,989 set in July 2000.

But while total arrival numbers aren’t as high as some would like, the length-of-stay numbers are better, and make up for fewer visitors.

“People don’t understand that the length-of-stay increase can sometimes be better than more arrivals,” Parker said. “There’s a little less use of the island, but it’s the same if not better economically. They eat out at restaurants more, rent cars longer, stay in hotel rooms longer, and extend their consumerism.”

By September, Parker said, there will probably be a “softening,” followed shortly by another burst during the holidays.

Finally, the amount of money people are spending has increased slightly nationwide, but so have the costs of transportation and hotels. Prices for sweet crude are back up to over $40 per barrel, and that could register as a sharp spike in fuel prices very soon, hamstringing customers who haven’t purchased yet.

Kaua‘i’s hotels are waiting to see what happens, and how best to respond with quick customer-saving incentives like complimentary ocean-activity coupons or breakfasts.

Phil Hayworth, business editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or phayworth@pulitzer.net.