West Coast visitors More visitors from the U.S. West came to the isles in October 2002 than in October 2000, following a strong trend of growth in that market this year, according to state statistics.
beat 2000 levels
By Tim Ruel
truel@starbulletin.comThe increase underscores a shift in Hawaii tourism, in which U.S. West visitors are displacing tourists from the more distant markets of Japan and the U.S. East Coast.
A total of 192,484 visitors came to the state from the U.S. West in October, an increase of more than 3,300 people, or 1.8 percent, from 189,147 visitors in October 2000.
At the same time, 128,652 visitors came to Hawaii from Japan, down 12.4 percent from 146,880 in 2000. U.S. East arrivals fell 11 percent to 121,138 from 136,178 in 2000. That's according to data released today by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Total arrivals for October hit 513,061 visitors, down 7.7 percent from 555,581 in 2000. On a year-over-year basis, arrivals are way up from the 389,638 visitors in October 2001, which was depressed by the extraordinary effects of Sept. 11.
For the year, total arrivals are down 9 percent from 2000 and down 2.3 percent from 2001.
Visitor spending is down 1 percent in the first nine months of 2002 compared with 2001, according to preliminary data. That's a net loss of $79 million.
October tourism in the state had a respectable performance that affirms the strength of Hawaii's domestic market, according to Seiji Naya, director of the state business department.
Naya noted that year-to-date international arrivals are down 10.3 percent, an improvement over the 20 percent and 30 percent dips seen earlier this year.
"Another positive note is the strong growth in Japanese honeymooners which has risen 43.5 percent so far this year," Naya said.
The Big Island, Molokai and Lanai each beat year 2000 arrivals in October. Oahu had 10 percent fewer visitors than it did in 2000, while Kauai had 9.4 percent fewer arrivals and Maui had 8.8 percent fewer arrivals.
Of last month's arrivals, 41 percent were first-time visitors to Hawaii, while 59 percent were repeat travelers. Cruise ships carried 33,434 passengers in October, up from 26,533 last year.
