Hawaii Visitor Statistics Released for First Quarter 2019

For Immediate Release: April 25, 2019
HTA Release (19-06)

2019-04-25 March 2019 Visitor Stats Press Release.pdf

HONOLULU – Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $4.52 billion in the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of 2.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2018, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).

In the first quarter, visitor spending was flat from the U.S. West (-0.3% to $1.64 billion) and declined from U.S. East (-1.4% to $1.23 billion), Japan (-3.2% to $539.9 million), Canada (-2.0% to $455.7 million) and All Other International Markets (-8.8% to $637.7 million) compared to a year ago.

Total visitor arrivals in the first quarter grew 2.6 percent to 2,542,269 visitors, supported by arrivals via air service (+2.6% to 2,502,636) and cruise ships (-0.8% to 39,632) compared to the first quarter of 2018. Due to a shorter average length of stay by visitors from most markets, total visitor days was flat (+0.2%).

Visitor arrivals by air service in the first quarter increased from U.S. West (+7.1% to 1,030,644), U.S. East (+2.0% to 578,837), Japan (+2.2% to 391,228) and Canada (+0.9% to 209,525) while combined visitor arrivals from All Other International Markets declined (-8.1% to 292,402) versus last year.

Among the four larger islands, Oahu recorded increases in both visitor spending (+4.6% to $2.01 billion) and visitor arrivals (+3.7% to 1,481,543) in the first quarter compared to a year ago. Visitor spending decreased on Maui (-5.5% to $1.33 billion) despite growth in visitor arrivals (+2.8% to 727,967). The island of Hawaii realized declines in both visitor spending (-13.3% to $648.6 million) and visitor arrivals (-9.3% to 449,615), as did Kauai with its visitor spending (-4.2% to $483.5 million) and visitor arrivals (-1.4% to 333,961).

March 2019 Visitor Results

In March 2019, total visitor spending statewide declined 2.3 percent to $1.51 billion compared to March 2018. Visitor spending rose from U.S. West (+0.7% to $576.9 million) but decreased from U.S. East (-0.6% to $402.5 million), Japan (-2.0% to $190.4 million), Canada (-5.4% to $137.4 million) and All Other International Markets (-11.1% to $195.6 million).

On a statewide level, average daily visitor spending was down (-3.0% to $192 per person) in March year-over-year. Visitors from U.S. West (-4.4%), Canada (-3.2%), Japan (-1.8%) and U.S. East
(-1.6%) spent less per day in March compared to a year ago.

A total of 939,064 visitors came to Hawaii in March, up 3.9 percent from the same month last year. Arrivals by air service (+4.1% to 927,246) increased while arrivals by cruise ships (-10.4% to 11,818) declined. Total visitor days increased 0.7 percent.

Arrivals by air service realized growth from U.S. West (+9.7%), U.S. East (+4.1%) and Canada (+1.3%) in March versus last year. Arrivals from Japan (+0.4%) was comparable while arrivals from All Other International Markets (-8.7%) declined.

The average daily census of total visitors in the Hawaiian Islands on any given day in March was 253,498, an increase of 0.7 percent compared to March of last year.

On Oahu, visitor spending (+6.7% to $687.5 million) and visitor arrivals (+4.3% to 532,801) increased in March year-over-year. Visitor spending on Maui decreased (-3.3% to $442.9 million) even though arrivals increased (+5.4% to 273,846). The island of Hawaii recorded declines in both visitor spending (-19.3% to $203.0 million) and visitor arrivals (-6.7% to 163,987). Kauai also saw decreases in both visitor spending (-9.6% to $153.7 million) and visitor arrivals (-1.3% to 123,730).

A total of 1,192,137 trans-Pacific air seats serviced the Hawaiian Islands in March, up 1.6 percent from a year ago. Growth in air seats from Canada (+12.0%), U.S. East (+4.9%), Japan (+4.6%) and U.S. West (+0.9%) offset declines from Oceania (-10.5%) and Other Asia Markets (-8.4%).

[See full release here]