For Immediate Release: July 28, 2005
DBEDT Release News 05-18

Note: June 2005 Visitor Research Data can be viewed here.

HONOLULU - Total expenditures by air visitors to Hawaii rose 3.7 percent in June 2005 to $1 billion, boosted by higher total visitor days (+5.3%), according to data released today by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).

The average daily spending by these visitors was $169 per person.

Growth from both the domestic and international markets resulted in a 5.5 percent increase in total arrivals, to 651,639 visitors, setting a new benchmark for the month of June. Total arrivals year-to-date grew 7.0 percent to 3,587,319 visitors and was the best first half showing on record.

On a year-to-date basis, total air visitor spending rose 6.8 percent to $5.5 billion compared to the first half of 2004, while total visitor days was up 7.1 percent.

Hawaii's cruise industry also remained healthy with visitor days climbing 55.4 percent for the first six months of the year.

"June's continued strong performance, from both the domestic and international markets, is unprecedented," said State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. "Visitor spending increased 3.7% compared to June 2004 to over a billion dollars. We have only realized a billion dollars in spending twice before, once in July and again in December last year. We are definitely on pace to break all records in arrivals, visitor days and visitor spending," continued Wienert.

Year-to-Date 2005 preliminary visitor statistics:

Total Air Visitors: Air visitors spent a total of $5.5 billion during first half of 2005, 6.8 percent higher compared to the same period last year with increases from all four major visitor markets (U.S. West, U.S. East, Japan and Canada). First half 2005 visitor spending on Oahu totaled $2.7 billion (+5.6%), followed by Maui at $1.5 billion (+3.1%), the Big Island at $741.7 million (+23.4%) and Kauai at $554 million (+4.2%).

Contributing to the growth in total visitor expenditures was a 7.1 percent increase in total visitor days. Boosted by record growth in domestic arrivals and increases from the international markets, total arrivals rose 7 percent to a new first half year record of 3,587,319 visitors. The average length of stay by these visitors was 9.14 days.

Visitor arrivals rose on Oahu (+7.5%), Kauai (+2.1%), Maui (+2.7%) and the Big Island (+16.9%) compared to the same period last year.

A greater number of visitors came to vacation (+7.8%), honeymoon (+13.2%), visit friends or relatives (+6.2%) and for meetings, conventions and incentives (+15.4%).

Repeat visitors accounted for 62.3 percent of the total visitors to Hawaii, versus 62.2 percent in year-to-date 2004.

• Domestic air visitors: Domestic visitor days grew 7.2 percent as arrivals increased 6.3 percent to 2,541,801 visitors, a new first half record. The average length of stay was 9.97 days up from 9.89 days in year-to-date 2004.

  The number of U.S. visitors, which comprised 92.4 percent of total domestic arrivals, was 6.5 percent higher compared to the same period last year with increases from all U.S. regions. Total domestic arrivals include U.S. residents and international visitors who came to Hawaii on domestic flights.

• International air visitors: International visitor days rose 6.8 percent due to an 8.9 percent growth in arrivals to 1,045,518 visitors. The average length of stay was 7.10 days.

• Air visitors from the top four major market areas (MMAs):

  U.S. West: Total spending by U.S. West visitors increased 5.1 percent compared to first half 2004, to $1.9 billion, the highest among the four major visitor markets. The average daily spending was $144 per person. Visitor days for this group grew 6.5 percent, as arrivals rose 6.6 percent to 1,394,835 visitors. The average length of stay was virtually unchanged from first half 2004 at 9.54 days. More of these visitors came to vacation, visit friends or relatives, and for conventions, corporate meetings and incentives compared to the same period last year.

  U.S. East: Ranked second in total visitors spending was U.S. East visitors at $1.8 billion, which was up 10.6 percent compared to the same period last year. This group of visitors spent an average of $173 per person per day, the second highest among the top four visitor markets.

  U.S. East visitor days rose 6.6 percent compared to first half 2004. Contributing to the increase was a 5.4 percent growth in arrivals to 992,383 visitors. The average length of stay was 10.41 days. Similar to their U.S. West counterpart, more U.S. East visitors came to vacation, visit friends or relatives and attend corporate meetings.

  Japan: Total spending by Japanese visitors surpassed first half 2004 levels by 2.6 percent to $1 billion. While ranking third in total expenditures, Japanese visitors spent the most on a daily basis at $249 per person. Japanese visitor days increased 5.2 percent, boosted by arrivals, which grew 7 percent to 731,151 visitors. The average length of stay by these visitors was 5.62 days. More Japanese visitors came to vacation, honeymoon, for conventions and incentives, and to visit friends and relatives compared to the same period last year.

Canada: Total expenditures and average daily spending by Canadian visitors ranked fourth among the top four major visitor markets at $233.5 million (+11.6%) and $126 per person, respectively. Canadian visitor days rose 13.5 percent due to a 10.7 percent growth in arrivals to 136,723 visitors in first half 2005. The average length of stay was 13.53 days.
• Per person per trip expenditures by MMA:

  Year-to-date U.S. East visitors spent the most per trip at $1,803 per person, followed by visitors from Canada ($1,708 per person), from All Other markets ($1,519 per person), Japan ($1,401 per person) and the U.S. West ($1,370 per person).

Total cruise visitor days jumped 55.4 percent during the first half of 2005. Contributing to this increase was a 31.3 percent growth in out-of-state visitors to 128,439 passengers, including those who arrived by air to board cruise ships and those who came with the ships. These visitors were aboard two Hawaii-home ported ships, the Norwegian Wind and the Pride of Aloha, as well as 30 out-of-state cruise ships. In year-to-date 2004, there were 36 out-of-state cruise ships and one Hawaii home-ported ship, the Norwegian Star, touring the islands.

Repeat visitors to Hawaii comprised 54.6 percent of the out-of-state cruise visitors, compared to 58.9 percent in year-to-date 2004. These cruise visitors stayed an average of 8.81 days in Hawaii, of which 5.77 days were spent on their cruise and another 3.04 days were spent before and after their cruise.

Technical Notes: 2004 air visitor data presented in this press release are the final 2004 numbers. Detailed final statistics will be published in the 2004 Annual Visitor Research Report schedule for release in late August 2005.

2005 expenditure data for the first six months of the year have been revised to reflect the inclusion of inter island air faire costs in order to compare 2005 to final 2004 statistics. In addition, total spending (on-ship and on-shore) by passengers touring the islands on Hawaii home ported ships has also been included as has on-shore spending by passengers on foreign ships.

For more information, contact:
Marsha Wienert, Tourism Liaison
Phone: (808) 586-2362
Email: marsha.wienert@hawaii.gov

Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov