�This good news demonstrates that we remain a strong and desirable visitor destination,� said DBEDT Director Seiji Naya. �Also, it indicates that we need to continue to aggressively market our islands as a premier world-class destination.� 

Both the westbound and eastbound markets experienced growth in average length of stay.  In September 1999, visitors stayed an average of 8.14 days, a 3.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Westbound average length of stay increased 1.0 percent to 9.61 days, while the average number of days an eastbound visitor stayed was 5.85 days, representing a 6.7 percent increase. Year-to-date (through September), visitor days are up 2.4 percent. 

Also up in September were visitor arrivals. Over 530,000 visitors came to Hawaii this September, representing a small increase (+0.2%), compared to last September. Similar to visitor days, overall year-to-date (through September) arrivals are up 1.4 percent. 

�Growth in the visitor industry contributed to the state�s business sales and employment,� said Pearl Imada Iboshi, Administrator of DBEDT�s Research and Economic Analysis Division. �The state�s General Excise and Use tax revenue, an indicator of business sales, grew 2.1 percent through September. Additionally, the state�s unemployment rate dropped to 5.7 percent year-to-date (through September), a 0.7 percentage decline from the same period last year.� 

For the fifth consecutive month, additional westbound visitors offset the loss of eastbound visitors. Compared to September 1998, the number of September 1999 eastbound visitors fell 4.7 percent, or 10,140 visitors. However, during the same time period, westbound visitation grew 3.7 percent, or 11,400 visitors. 

Most of the September 1999 westbound growth came from Canada and the Eastern Regions of the United States. Compared to September 1998, the largest increase in westbound visitors was from Canada (+48.6%). Hawaii also experienced an influx of eastern U.S. visitors, with 21.3 percent more New Englanders, 16.8 percent more visitors from the Mid Atlantic and 13.3 percent more South Atlantic visitors. In addition to the North American visitors, 11.5 percent more Europeans came to Hawaii in September 1999 than a year ago. 

Like the overall eastbound market, Japanese arrivals and visitor days were down in September 1999, compared to September 1998. Japanese arrivals fell 4.2 percent and despite a 2.9 percent increase in Japanese visitors� average length of stay, visitor days fell 1.4 percent.  Fewer Japanese visitors went to Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai or Lanai this September compared to a year ago; however, 2.0 percent more went to the Big Island. 

In total, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and the Big Island all had more visitors this September than last. Increase visitation from both the westbound and eastbound markets helped boost visitation to the Big Island (+12.4%) and Kauai (+0.2%). Increased visitation on Oahu and Molokai were solely the result of more visitors from the westbound market. Year-to-date (through September), visitation to Kauai is up 5.3 percent, while the other islands received fewer visitors. 

More visitors traveled to Oahu and at least one neighbor island this September compared to September 1998. Subsequently, the number of visitors who took a trip to more than one island increased this September. September 1999 also saw increases in both the westbound and eastbound visitors travelling to more than one island during their stay (+1.7% and +12.2%, respectively), compared to last September. 

Over 73.0 percent of all visitors stayed in a hotel in September 1999, representing an increase of 1.4 percent compared to September 1998. Cruise ship lodging and Bed & Breakfast lodging also increased this September compared to the same time period last year, (+8.1% and +28.5%, respectively). For the second month in a row, condo lodging fell (-4.2%). 

Based on preliminary data from Smith Travel Research and PricewaterhouseCoopers, hotel occupancy for the state was up 3.0 percentage points, (69.9% to 72.9%), this September compared to September 1998. Also up was the average daily room rate, from $119.95 to $123.07. 
Hawaii continued to welcome more honeymooners this September compared to the same period last year. While honeymoon traffic increased 30.7 percent, pleasure and vacation trips dropped 3.4 percent. For the first time in four months, meeting, convention and incentive (MCI) travel to Hawaii increased (+6.3%). In particular, travel to Hawaii for corporate meetings increased 60.0 percent in September 1999, compared to September 1998. Of this, westbound travel increased 32.1 percent, while eastbound travel increased 210.3 percent. 

The year-to-date MCI figure remains flat (-0.1%) for westbound, while the eastbound remains depressed (-23.1%). 

In addition to the 530,020 visitors who flew to Hawaii this September, 5,546 visitors came on cruise ships. Three foreign ships brought visitors to Hawaii in late September: Vision of the Seas; Norwegian Wind; and Rhapsody of the Seas. The average length of stay for these ships was 10.7 days, a 72.6 percent increase compared to last year September.