Categorized | Business

Visitor expenditures up to $1.43B for January

MEDIA RELEASE

Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawaii in January 2013 rose 5.7 percent (or $77.3 million) from January 2012, to $1.43 billion, boosted by higher daily spending (+4% to $202 per person) and a 5.9 percent growth in total arrivals (to 681,854 visitors), according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

These increases continued the momentum of consecutive growth in total visitor spending and arrivals since January 2011.

Among Hawaii’s top visitor markets, arrivals by air from U.S. West grew 9 percent to 243,053 visitors, the 15th straight month of increases since November 2011. Total U.S. West visitor expenditures rose 14.5 percent to $419.6 million in January 2013. U.S. East arrivals increased 1.6 percent to 152,503 visitors in January 2013, while total visitor spending was up 10.6 percent to $394.4 million.

Arrivals from Japan have continued to increase for the last 18 months. In January 2013, Japanese arrivals grew 7.9 percent to 117,721 visitors. Despite slightly lower daily spending (-1.7% to $334 per person), total Japanese visitor expenditures rose 3.8 percent to $227.9 million.

Canadian arrivals grew 5.1 percent to 67,332 visitors in January 2013 and total Canadian visitor expenditures were 1.8 percent higher compared to last January at $168.1 million. In contrast, arrivals from All Other markets remained constant (-0.8%), while total visitor expenditures fell 11.3 percent to $217.8 million in January 2013.

Arrivals by cruise ships increased 32.5 percent (to 18,239 visitors) from January 2012.

Total visitor expenditures and arrivals by air were higher on all Hawaiian Islands in January 2013 compared to a year ago. Among the larger islands, Kauai led the growth in total visitor expenditures (+14.3% to $136.6 million) and arrivals (+10.6% to 92,163); followed by Hawaii Island (+13.6% to $217.2 million; +7.2% to 133,975); Maui (+5.8% to $391.4 million; +6.5% to 200,962) and Oahu (+1.3% to $670.1 billion; +4.3% to 407,075).

Other Highlights:

The decline in expenditures from All Other markets was primarily due to fewer Chinese visitors (-26% to 10,320) compared to last January. The shift in the Lunar New Year holidays to February in 2013 from late January in 2012 contributed to this decrease.

More visitors came to honeymoon (+8.5% to 34,749) in January 2013 compared to a year ago. Much of the growth was driven by visitors from All Other Markets (+37% to 7,548). There were also increases from U.S. West (+10.3% to 5,278), U.S. East (+7.4% to 5,071) and Japan (+1.6% to 15,925).

Significantly fewer visitors came to get married (-21.4% to 6,107) compared to January 2012, as a result of decreases from Japan (-33.6% to 2,453), U.S. West (-4.5% to 1,626) and U.S. East (-12.9% to 1,029).

The total number of visitors who came for meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) rose 3.8 percent from January 2012. Fewer visitors came for conventions (-15.6% to 32,033) and corporate meetings (-6.8% to 9,527) compared to last January. Offsetting these declines was a doubling of incentive visitors (+107.1% to 16,322).

Japanese incentive visitors quadrupled in January 2013 (9,067 visitors, from 1,616 in January 2012), with a number of Japanese companies having hosted events in the Hawaiian Islands, including the 2013 Sony Open.

Contributing to the 9 percent growth in U.S. West arrivals in January 2013 were increases from Pacific region (+9.2%) states: Alaska (+7.8%), California (+9.5%), Oregon (+10.9%) and Washington (+7.7%). Arrivals from the Mountain region rose 5.1 percent from January 2012.

Growth in U.S. East arrivals (+1.6%) for January 2013 was led by the Middle Atlantic region (+15.1%), which was supported by increased air service. Arrivals from the New England (+7%) and South Atlantic (+2.5%) regions also increased, offsetting declines from the East South Central (-8.4%), West North Central (-5%) and East North Central (-2.6%) regions.

Island Highlights:

All Hawaiian Islands reported growth in total expenditures and arrivals by air compared to January 2012.

Kauai: Arrivals to this island grew 10.6 percent to 92,163 visitors in January 2013. Arrivals from U.S. West rose by double digits (+18% to 41,399), supported by increased air service to Lihue airport. In addition, there were more visitors from U.S. East (+5.3% to 31,914) and Canada (+12.6% to 9,801) compared to last January. Higher daily spending (+7.2% to $175 per person) also contributed to a 14.3 percent jump in total visitor expenditures to $136.6 million.

Hawaii Island: Arrivals to Hawaii Island grew 7.2 percent to 133,975 visitors with increases from all top four visitor markets: U.S. West (+7.9% to 50,142), U.S. East (+11.7% to 38,581), Japan (+6.7% to 16,685) and Canada (+5.5% to 13,428). Growth in daily spending (+7.7% to $181 per person) also bolstered Hawaii Island’s total visitor expenditures (+13.6%) to $217.2 million.

Maui: In January 2013, increased arrivals (+6.5% to 200,962 visitors) and daily spending (+4.3% to $212 per person) contributed to a 5.8 percent growth in Maui’s total visitor expenditures to $391.4 million. There was growth in arrivals from U.S. West (+9% to 81,851), U.S. East (+2.7% to 58,421) and Canada (+12% to 34,560) compared to January 2012.

Oahu: Arrivals to Oahu rose 4.3 percent to 407,075 visitors in January 2013. Higher daily spending (+3% to $214 per person) also contributed to a 1.3 percent increase in total visitor expenditures to $670.1 million. Growth in arrivals from Japan (+8.1% to 113,355), U.S. West (+6.8% to 106,380) and U.S. East (+2% to 86,893) offset a 5.3 percent decline from Canada (to 26,719). Arrivals from Korea to Oahu rose 9.1 percent to 12,143 visitors, but arrivals from China decreased 25.2 percent to 9,916 visitors.

Air Seats to Hawaii

Total air seats for January 2013 increased 10.6 percent from the same month last year to 915,965 seats. Total air seats rose for Honolulu (+9.8% to 629,045), Kahului (+9.7% to 168,317), Kona (+10.8% to 59,175) and Lihue (+29.1% to 55,324), but declined for Hilo (-25.3% to 4,104).

Total scheduled air seats grew 11.4 percent to 909,486. However, international charter seats fell 63.5 percent to 1,787 seats, largely due to five fewer charter flights from Japan and no charters from any other countries (there were six charters from other countries in January 2012). Domestic charter seats also declined (-29.2% to 4,692 seats) as a result of fewer charter flights out of Las Vegas.

Scheduled air seats from U.S. West in January 2013 grew 9.5 percent. New service from Eugene, Fresno, Santa Maria and Stockton; and increased service from Anchorage, Bellingham, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, San Jose and Seattle, offset reduced service from Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and San Francisco, and discontinued service from Orange County.

Seats from U.S. East climbed 31.4 percent from January 2012. Daily direct service from New York City and Washington D.C., and increased service from Houston and Newark more than offset slightly fewer seats out of Chicago.

Scheduled seats out of Japan grew 12 percent compared to January 2012 mainly due to new service from Sapporo and increased service from Fukuoka, Nagoya, Haneda and Narita.
Oceania air seats rose 14.1 percent, boosted by additional seats from Sydney and Auckland. Hawaiian Airlines launched a new route from Brisbane in late November and Jetstar restarted service from Melbourne in December 2012.

Scheduled seats from Other Asia climbed 23 percent from January 2012 as increased service boosted seats from Seoul. In addition, there was increased service out of Shanghai and new service from Taipei.

Cruise Ship Visitors

The total number of visitors who came by cruise ships or by air to board cruise ships increased 18.9 percent to 27,665 visitors in January 2013. Total cruise visitor days rose 19.2 percent from last January.

Nine cruise ships came in January 2013 and brought 18,239 visitors to the islands. These ships had larger capacity than the nine ships that came in January 2012 with 13,764 visitors.

Statement from Mike McCartney, President and CEO Hawaii Tourism Authority

Within the first month of the year, Hawaii’s tourism industry has already contributed $1.43 billion into the state’s economy, $77 million more than the same period last year. Each guest spent an average of $2,103 during their stay, which equates to $220 per person in state tax revenue.

Significant gains in air seats have been a major contributor to the growth in arrivals throughout the state, and this year, we forecast reaching 10.7 million air seats, surpassing the record high of 10.6 million seats in 2006.

The growth from our international markets has been considerable, making up 34 percent of total air seats, with new nonstop routes from Taipei and Sendai and increased service from Australia and New Zealand commencing this year.

We will continue to support these increases in air access, which will help to open up opportunities for us to further diversify and grow our international and U.S. East markets, as well as expand our meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) market.

However, we recognize that we cannot take this growth for granted. It has taken three years to rebuild our airlift after having lost 1.5 million air seats between 2007 and 2009.

It is important that we continue to focus our efforts on highlighting our unique people, place and culture in order to drive demand, offer opportunities for travel during slower fall and spring shoulder seasons, and increase visitor distribution throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

In January 2013, arrivals to Hawaii Island grew 7.2 percent to 133,975 visitors with increases from all top four visitor markets: U.S. West (+7.9% to 50,142), U.S. East (+11.7% to 38,581), Japan (+6.7% to 16,685) and Canada (+5.5% to 13,428).

Growth in daily spending (+7.7% to $181 per person) also bolstered Hawaii Island’s total visitor expenditures (+13.6%) to $217.2 million. The Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai, held from Jan. 18-20, also helped to boost arrivals.

Hawaii Island will welcome the 50th anniversary of the Merrie Monarch Festival from March 31-April 6, which welcomes both visitors and residents to experience Hawaii’s unique host culture, first-hand.

After reaching nearly 8 million visitor arrivals last year, the HTA will continue to monitor the correlation between travel demand and costs in order to balance the needs of our residents and visitors, while remaining competitive and sustaining a healthy tourism economy.

While our industry is sensitive to the global economy, the HTA continues to work with our industry partners to maintain momentum to reach our targets of $14.88 billion in visitor expenditures and 8.17 million arrivals this year.

— Find out more:
www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/research/research/visitor-highlights

One Response to “Visitor expenditures up to $1.43B for January”

  1. Great news for Hawaii, no doubt that this place is one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

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