BY MARSHA WIENERT – Hawaii’s visitor industry continues to improve, as evidenced by the 22 percent or $160.1 million increase in visitor spending in September, which was a result of increased visitor arrivals and average daily visitor spending. The improvements in the visitor industry over the past several months are helping to grow our economy and the positive impacts are being felt across the state,” said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert.
It’s particularly significant that the neighbor islands are experiencing improvements in visitor arrivals and visitor spending. Increased airseats into these islands have helped to bring more visitors from the mainland, which is boosting visitor spending,” added Wienert.
During Japan’s ‘Silver Week’ last month, Japanese visitors stayed longer and spent more per day on average, resulting in a year-to-date increase of 5.5 percent in arrivals and 3.7 percent in visitor spending. In addition, a 13.3 percent increase in visitors from Canada and a 30.8 percent increase in visitors from all other international destinations in September strengthened the overall results for the month.”
As the number of international visitors continues to increase and we pursue new emerging markets such as China and Korea, the new International Arrivals Corridor at Honolulu International Airport that was dedicated on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 as well as other improvements statewide as part of our Airports Modernization Plan, will provide an enhanced welcome experience for Hawai’i’s international guests. The new arrivals corridor in the ‘Ewa Concourse will welcome about 80 percent of all international visitors and allow for a more pleasant, relaxed and convenient entry into the customs and immigration facility and to our islands.”
Marsha Wienert is the state of Hawaii Tourism Liaison