| June 28, 2000 - Hawaii visitor arrivals continue
to set records according to a DBEDT report released today. The May 2000
visitor arrivals were an all-time high for any May in history. This is
the fourth consecutive month that visitor arrivals are at record levels,
signaling the probability of a record-breaking year.
Visitor days increased by 8.8 percent compared to the same period last
year. A total of 554,641 visitors came to Hawaii in May, an increase of
8.0 percent over May 1999.
�These are very significant increases, indicating a very positive trend
for one of Hawaii�s primary industries,� said DBEDT Director Seiji Naya.
�Hawaii is clearly enjoying a resurgence as a visitor destination. The
effect is going to be positive for all sectors of our economy.�
This record-breaking trend is expected to continue through June, due
in part to the Lions Convention. The visitor industry is also forecasting
a very strong summer.
Year-to-date (through May), visitor days increased by 4.6 percent compared
to the same period last year, while visitor arrivals increased by 4.4 percent.
On a daily basis, Hawaii welcomed 168,770 visitors year-to-date, a 4.0
percent increase from the same period last year.
The record increase resulted from strong growth in all of our major
markets. Of particular interest, Japanese visitor days increased
by 5.3 percent this May, compared to last, while total Japanese visitors
increased 4.2 percent.
�The concert of Namie Amuro on May 14 and the Tube on June 1 brought
many Japanese visitors to our State,� Naya noted. �More than 13,000 Tube
fans came from Japan for the show held in Aloha Stadium. This is a strong
endorsement for cross- cultural tourism that we cannot ignore.�
Demand from the U.S. mainland also continues to be strong. TWA started
a new daily nonstop flight from St. Louis to Kona this May.
Total scheduled air seats increased 11.0 percent this May from last.
Year - to - date, scheduled air seats increased 7.9 percent compared to
the same period last year.
Visitors Arriving on Domestic Flights
Domestic (arriving on flights originating in the U.S.) visitor days
increased 9.2 percent this May compared to last. This increase is due solely
to the increase in arrivals since average length of stay did not change.
A total of 365,157 visitors arrived in Hawaii on domestic flights this
May, and stayed an average of 9.50 days.
Of the visitors arriving on domestic flights this May, 88.4 percent
of them were U.S. residents. They represent an increase of 9.2 percent
this May, compared to last. Hawaii welcomed more visitors from all regions
of the United States. West North Central region had the largest increase
in visitor count this May (+36.4%), followed by the New England (+14.1%),
the South Atlantic (+10.1%), the Middle Atlantic and Pacific (both +8.7%),
and the East North Central region (+8.6%).
Year-to-date, domestic visitor days are up 7.0 percent, due to the increase
in domestic visitor arrivals (+6.6%) and average length of stay above last
year�s levels (0.3%).
Visitors Arriving on International Flights
Visitors arriving on international flights increased 5.7 percent this
May compared to last May. In addition, the average length of stay also
increased 2.0 percent. As a result, total visitor days increased by 7.8
percent in this May from May last year.
A total of 189,484 visitors arrived in Hawaii on international flights
this May. Visitors coming for conventions increased by 12.0 percent,
while those coming for leisure increased by 9.2 percent this May compared
to last.
Japanese visitors accounted for 72.8 percent of the visitors arriving
on international flights, while Canadian visitors accounted for 4.3 percent.
The strong May arrivals also reversed downward year-to-date
arrival figures. For the first time this year, international year-to-date
arrivals increased (+0.6%). Year-to-date international visitor days are
still below last year�s level (-0.8%) due to the decrease in average length
of stay (-1.4%).
Island Highlights
Except for Molokai, all islands experienced increases in visitation
this May compared to last. Oahu had the largest increase in arrivals (+10.1%)
visitors, followed by Lanai (+9.3%), Kauai (+5.4%), Maui (+ 4.5%), and
the Big Island (+3.9%). Visitors to Molokai decreased by 11.2 percent.
Year-to-date, Kauai�s visitor count grew the most (+3.7%), followed
by Oahu (+3.6%), Maui (+2.1%), and the Big Island (+1.5 percent). Molokai
and Lanai had a decline in visitation year-to-date of 7.8 and 19.3 percent,
respectively.
Visitor Characteristics
More visitors came to Hawaii for conventions and meetings this May
than May last year. Visitors coming for conventions increased by 57.4 percent,
for corporate meetings by 22.6 percent, and incentives by 17.8 percent.
The strong May MCI travel (+39.6%) also boosted the year-to-date figure
(+18.2%).
Visitors who came to visit friends and relatives also increased by
19.4 percent.
The increase in vacationers (+10.1%) offset the decline in honeymooners
(-8.5%), resulting in an increase in the total leisure visitors (+7.1%).
Hotel lodging continues to surpass 1999 levels this May with more visitors
staying in a hotels (+10.0%) in May 2000 as compared to May 1999. Condo
lodging and bed & breakfast lodging declined this May. Visitors staying
on cruise ships increased 18.6 percent and with friends and relatives increased
5.8 percent this May compared to last.
Visitors on a group tour increased by 36.1 percent in May 2000, resulting
in year-to-date increase of 10.7 percent.
United States
More visitors residing in both the U.S. West and U.S. East Regions
came to Hawaii this May compared to last. The visitor count from the U.S.
West Region increased 9.2 percent and visitors from the U.S. East Region
increased 11.9 percent this May compared to last.
Visitors residing in the U.S. West Region stayed an average of 9.21
days.
Visitors from U.S. East Region stayed 9.44 days on average.
Japanese Visitors
In May 2000, Japanese visitors comprised 25.4 percent of total visitors
to Hawaii.
Japanese visitor days increased 5.3 percent this May compared to May
1999. Contributing to this increase were the increase in Japanese visitor
arrivals (+4.2%) and Japanese average length of stay (+1.1%). Japanese
visitors stayed an average of 5.55 days in May.
Kauai, the Big Island and Oahu continued to welcome more Japanese visitors,
(+51.3%, +19.5%, and +8.2% respectively), while all the three Maui county
islands hosted fewer Japanese visitors this May compared to last.
The number of Japanese visitors coming to Hawaii for conventions increased
120.3% this May compared to May 1999. But honeymoon visitors declined 23.7
percent during the same period.
The proportion of first-time Japanese visitors increased 2.1 percentage
points this May compared to last, with 54.4 percent of the Japanese visitors
coming to Hawaii for their first time.
Canadian Visitors
Canadian visitor days increased by 3.9 percent in May 2000 as compared
to the same period last year. Total Canadian visitor arrivals declined
by 1.2 percent this May but they stayed longer (10.81 days), a 5.1 percent
increase from May 1999.
Year-to-date, Canadian visitor arrivals and visitor days are still
below the levels of last year. |
