For Immediate Release: February 27, 2003
DBEDT Release News 03-07

Note: January 2003 Visitor Research Data can be viewed here.

Honolulu--Total visitor days for January 2003 rose 12.0 percent compared to the same month last year, due to increases in visitor arrivals from both the domestic and international market and a longer average length of stay, according to data released by DBEDT today.

"We appear to be successful in communicating the message that Hawaii is an enjoyable and safe vacation destination," said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu. "We are approaching many of our major markets to reassure them that we are doing everything possible to keep Hawaii attractive during these times of international uncertainty."

Contributing to the growth in January arrivals was the NFL Pro Bowl, which brought nearly 18,000 visitors to the islands according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the majority of whom came during the last week of January to participate in Pro Bowl activities before the game on February 2nd. Last year, Pro Bowl week was delayed until the second week of February and attracted about 16,000 visitors to the State.

"The Pro Bowl not only drew a large number of visitors to the event itself but, showcased the state's beauty and safe environment thanks to the television broadcast to nearly 6.3 million U.S. households," Liu said.

Visitors Arriving on Domestic Flights

Domestic visitor days, compiled from flights originating in U.S. cities, jumped 9.9 percent in January 2003 due to increased arrivals (+8.6%) and a longer length of stay (+1.1% to 12.40 days).

The U.S. market, which accounted for 89.6 percent of all domestic visitors, rose 6.2 percent from January a year ago. With the exception of decreases from Washington (-6.8%), Oregon (-0.9%) and the West North Central region (-1.4%), growth in arrivals were reported from California (+8.6%), the Mountain Region (+7.8%), West South Central region (+15.7%), East North Central region (+3.2%), East South Central region (+11.8%), New England region (+16.2%), Middle Atlantic region (+14.1%) and South Atlantic region (+10.4%).

Compared to the previous January, all islands experienced growth in domestic visitation led by Molokai (+60.9%), Lanai (+24.5%), Maui (+12.8%), Kauai (+9.3%), Oahu (+7.6%) and the Big Island (+2.0%).

More domestic visitors were in the islands for vacation (+9.6%), for meetings, conventions and incentives (+34.0%), to visit friends and relatives (+27.1%), and for other business (+25.8%) than in January 2002.

A new breakdown of visitors by purpose of trip was added this year. Data show that 15,018 visitors came to attend or participate in sporting events during the month, most of whom were here for Pro Bowl activities. In addition, 11,144 visitors honeymooned in the islands while 3,123 came to get married.

Repeat visitors comprised 69.0 percent of all domestic visitors to the islands, compared to 70.6 percent in the same month last year.

Visitors Arriving on International Flights

International visitor days, compiled from flights originating outside the U.S., rose 19.1 percent in January 2003 due to strong growth in visitor arrivals (+17.4%) and a longer length of stay (+1.4% to 7.20 days).

Except for Molokai, which reported a 63.0 percent drop in international visitations, other islands experienced double-digit increases in arrivals compared to the same month last year.

The number of visitors who came to vacation (+25.3%), for conventions, corporate meetings and incentives (+36.0%) and for other business (+177.1%) increased compared to the previous January. A total of 12,532 visitors honeymooned in the islands, 12,501 got married while 1,939 participated or attended sports events.

Repeat visitors accounted for 60.2 percent of all international visitors in this January, compared to 61.0 percent reported in January 2002.

Island Highlights

All islands except for Molokai (-6.1%) reported growth in visitor arrivals in January 2003 compared to the same month last year, led by Lanai (+30.0%), Maui (+18.7%), Oahu (+10.9%), Kauai (+10.8%) and the Big Island (+9.3%).

Domestic visitors on Oahu stayed the longest in January 2003 at 9.12 days (-0.9%), followed by Maui at 8.89 days (-0.9%), the Big Island at 8.88 days (-2.7%), Kauai at 7.72 days (+0.9%), Molokai at 5.42 days (+0.2%) and Lanai at 3.67 days (-11.6%).

Compared to last January international visitors stayed the longest on Maui at 7.17 days (+33.8%), followed by Oahu at 5.60 days (-4.9%), Kauai at 5.00 days (+3.2%), the Big Island at 4.44 days (+7.2%), Molokai at 3.51 days (-52.1%) and Lanai at 2.62 days (-51.6%).

Visitor Characteristics

The number of visitors who vacationed in the islands rose 15.2 percent in January 2003. More visitors also came for meetings, conventions and incentives (+34.4%), for other business (+34.2%) and to visit friends and relatives (+20.6%). Honeymooners totaled 23,676 visitors for the month while 15,624 visitors came to get married in the islands.

Hotels continue to be the primary choice for lodging, accommodating 69.2 percent of all visitors during this January, up 17.2 percent compared to the same month last year. The number of visitors who stayed in condominium units (+17.0%), timeshare properties (+6.8%), with friends and relatives (+14.6%), on cruise ships (+27.3%) and in bed and breakfast properties (+2.8%) also increased during the month.

Repeat visitors to Hawaii accounted for 65.9 percent of the total visitors in this January 2003 compared to 67.4 percent in January 2002.

Cruise Ship Visitors

A total of seven cruise ships toured the islands in January 2003 carrying 18,940 passengers, including those who arrived by air to board these ships and those who came with the ships. This month's passenger count was 32 percent higher than in January 2002 when seven cruise ships toured Hawaii with 14,327 passengers.

Of the 18,940 cruise passengers who came this January, 62.1 percent were repeat visitors to the islands. Cruise visitors stayed an average of 7.5 days in Hawaii, of which 4.58 days were spent on their cruise and another 2.91 days were spent before and after their cruise was over.

Of those who stayed part of their extra nights in Hawaii either before or after their shipboard cruises, about 94 percent chose to stay in hotels.

U.S. West Visitors

Increased visitor arrivals (+5.2%) contributed to the growth in visitor days (+5.1%) for January 2003. The average length of stay was stable at 11.7 days.

A total of 168,677 U.S. West visitors came to the islands during the month, of which 79.2 percent were repeat visitors, lower than the 79.6 percent from a year ago. Compared to last January, more visitors were here to visit friends and relatives (+26.2%), for other business (+17.5%), for incentives (+107.8%), for conventions (+22.6%) and to attend school (+11.0%). Nearly 6,500 U.S. West visitors came for sporting events, 4,683 honeymooned here and 1,442 got married in Hawaii.

All islands experienced increased visitations from the U.S. West, led by Molokai (+74.0%), Lanai (+39.8%), Maui (+11.4%), Kauai (+10.2%), the Big Island (+1.2%) and Oahu (+0.5%).

U.S. East Visitors

Increased arrivals (+7.6%) and a longer average length of stay (+2.9% to 12.87 days) contributed to a 10.7 percent growth in U.S. East visitor days in January 2003.

Of the 138,606 visitors from U.S. East during this January, 41.0 percent were first-timers to the islands, up from 39.6 percent in January a year ago. Visitors here for vacation (+8.8%), for meetings, convention and incentives (+43.6%), for other business (+32.7%), to visit friends and relatives (+17.0%) increased over January a year ago. There were 5,178 honeymooners in the islands from the U.S. East.

Japanese Visitors

Japanese visitor days rose 8.6 percent due to growth in arrivals (+15.4%) which entirely offset a shorter length of stay (-5.9% to 5.62 days). Hawaii welcomed a total of 122,120 Japanese visitors during the month. Of these, 61.8 percent were repeat visitors, compared to 63.7 percent in January 2002.

More Japanese visitors stayed in hotels (+17.5%), in condominium properties (+6.8%), in timeshare (+207.4%) and on cruise ships (+280.6%) but fewer stayed with friends and relatives (-36.2%) compared to the same month last year. Vacationing Japanese visitors rose 20.0 percent from January a year ago. Those here for conventions (+582.3%), incentives (+11.2%), government/military business (+548.6%), and for other business (+177.2%) also increased but fewer came for corporate meetings (-71.2%) or to visit friends and relatives (-86.5%). A total of 11,665 Japanese visitors got married while 11,054 honeymooned in the islands.

Canadian Visitors

Total Canadian visitor days increased 30.1 percent during January due to a 21.4 percent growth in visitor arrivals and a longer length of stay (+7.2% to 13.02 days). Of the 33,520 Canadian visitors who came this January, 67.4 percent were repeat visitors, up from 60.5 percent a year ago.

Arrivals surged on Kauai (+103.9%) and Maui (+91.4%) but declined on Molokai (-75.9%), Lanai (-28.6%), the Big Island (-18.8%), and Oahu (-1.0%) compared to January 2002.

More Canadians came to vacation (+19.2%), for corporate meetings (+137.4%), for incentives (+40.1%), to visit friends and relatives (+314.4%) and for other business (+113.6%), while fewer came for conventions (-29.3%) during the month.

End of Year 2002 Visitor Expenditure Data

End of year 2002 Visitor Expenditure statistics will be published in a separate Press Release in March 2003.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov