Arrivals continue to rise Visitors arrivals were up nearly a quarter in November from last year, as a trying year for the tourism industry winds toward a close.
The state looks set to
receive a total of 6.4 million
visitors for all of this yearStar-Bulletin Staff
Some 485,970 people poured into the islands last month, up 24.7 percent from 389,751 last year, but down 8.9 percent from 533,497 in 2000, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
State economists predict that 6.4 million visitors will come to Hawaii this year, compared with 6.3 million last year and a record 6.95 million in 2000.
"Hawaii's visitor industry is still experiencing weakness in arrivals from the Japanese market. As compared to other U.S. visitor destinations, however, we have made great progress over the past year," said Pearl Imada Iboshi, state economist. "We are very encouraged by the continued strength in the domestic market and the resilience of the U.S. economy."
In November, 184,940 visitors came from the U.S. West, up 4.1 percent from 177,628 last year. From the U.S. East, visitors rose 10 percent to 110,428 from 100,353. Japanese arrivals jumped 110 percent to 119,513 from 56,985. The Japan market is still far off from the 142,806 visitors who came here in November 2000.
Canadian visitors continued to dwindle in November, with arrivals falling 12.7 percent to 14,686 from 16,821. Year-to-date arrivals from Canada are down 13.6 percent.
By island, Oahu arrivals were up by one-third to 328,129, while Kauai, Maui and the Big Island all were up by double digits.
A hot market this year has been people visiting on a honeymoon, with 26.3 percent growth over last year. In comparison, the market for business travel has been mixed, with a 15.4 percent decrease in visitors who come here for corporate meetings and a 4.5 percent increase in convention attendees.
Visitor spending in the first 10 months of the year is up 1.7 percent to $8.42 billion from $8.28 billion last year, according to the most recent preliminary data available from the state. The state predicts visitor spending will hit $10.34 billion by the end of the year, compared with $10.12 billion last year and $10.9 billion in 2000.
Average occupancy at isle hotels and resorts was at 68.6 percent in November, compared with 60.7 percent in November 2001 and 76.5 percent in November 2000, according to PKF-Hawaii.
Room revenue rose to $89.49 from $80.56 last year, and is down significantly from $110.70 from 2000.
Of last month's visitors, 38.8 percent were on their first trip to the isles, while 61.2 percent have been here before. Less than one in five visitors came on a group tour.
Cruise ships carried 21,899 passengers in the isles last month, a 49.1 percent increase from 14,686 passengers last year, the state said. Three out-of-state ships joined the home-ported Norwegian Star and Norwegian Wind. The average cruise lasted just under five days.
