Japanese tourists’ spending
up, DBEDT says

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By Russ Lynch
rlynch@starbulletin.com

Japanese visitors increased their individual spending in Hawaii in the first half of this year despite a weaker yen, according to a new survey by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

While total Japanese visitor traffic was down, those who did come spent 4.4 percent more per day on average, the department said. In the first six months of 2001, their spending in the islands averaged $237.41 a person each day, up from $227.36 in the first half of last year.

Visitors from the western U.S. mainland increased their daily spending by 2.6 percent, to $154.46 from $150.55 last year. However, that was the lowest daily spending per person in the markets checked by the department and more travelers come to Hawaii from there than from any other market, DBEDT said. Spending by visitors from points in the eastern United States decreased 6 percent, to average $170.87 in the latest six months, compared to $181.71 in the first half of 2000.

Also down was daily spending by the "other Asia" group, a dip of 4.4 percent year-over-year to $203.60 a day from $212.89.

Canadians increased their individual spending to $156.58 a day, up 8.7 percent from a year-earlier $144.09. Visitors from Oceania -- Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands -- spent 1.3 percent more per day on average, $192.40 compared to $189.97 in the first half of 2000.