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Cruises and overall tourism on record-setting course in Hawaii
The number of cruise ship passengers is up 50% and the tourism industry in general in Hawaii is on a steady course to have another record year.
“We are very pleased with July’s extraordinary performance from the domestic market,” said Marsha Wienert, the state tourism liaison.
Domestic arrivals in July reached more than 564,000 visitors for the fourth straight month of growth.
Kauai is getting the greatest gains in tourism with a 13.3% increase for July, the latest month for available figures.
There’s also a greater number of visitors coming for meetings and as business travelers.
Hawaii’s status as a hot tourism spot is relatively recent development. Before it became a state, Hawaii’s economy was tied to military bases such as Pearl Harbor. Inaccessibility and high transportation costs made it isolated.
But in 1959, it became a state and jet travel began to get popular.
As recently as 1962, however, only a million visitors reached Waikiki. But soon after tourism replaced the military as the island’s leading industry.
US visitors today are the biggest market for Hawaii, representing more than 92% of total domestic arrivals. Their numbers were also up by 2.4% from the same period last year.
Last year, a record 7.46 million visitors came to Hawaii, spending $11.5 billion. This year, more visitors and higher spending is expected.
“We will set another record,” predicted Leroy Laney, a Hawaii Pacific University professor.
Hawaii has 33 cruise ships including three US flagged ships that are home ported here: the Price of Aloha, the Pride of Hawaii and the Pride of America.
Repeat business has helped promote the healthy tourism market. More than half of the recent arrivals here are returning to Hawaii.
The only downside in Hawaii is that visitors from one of their traditionally strongest markets, Japan, have fallen every month this year. Economists attributed that to airline fuel surcharges, fewer air seats and higher hotel room rates.
Various group operators are helping to fuel the boom with special offerings. Trafalgar, for example, is promoting a $300 per couple saving on all their Hawaii vacations. The trips include first class accommodations, many meals, sightseeing, touring by luxury coach and professional guides.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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