Hawaii Visitor Spending at US$1.44 Billion But Still Below Down

Tourists have been arriving in Hawaii close to pre-pandemic levels – around 26,000 passengers are arriving daily. But the statistics show that they are being more frugal with their spending money.

Total visitor spending in Hawaii for tourists arriving in June 2021 was US$1.44 billion. That is still below June 2019 when visitor spending was US$163 billion – a decline of 11.9 percent. No numbers were available for visitor spending in June 2020. These preliminary statistics were jointly released by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) and Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Through the first 6 months of 2021, total visitor spending was US$4.86 billion. By comparison, this represented a 45.1 percent decline from the US$8.86 billion spent through the first half of 2019.

A total of 791,053 visitors arrived by air service to the Hawaiian Islands in June 2021, mainly from the U.S. West and U.S. East. Prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic and Hawaii’s quarantine requirement for travelers, the Hawaiian Islands experienced record-level visitor expenditures and arrivals in 2019 and in the first two months of 2020. When compared to 2019, visitor arrivals in June 2021 were down 16.5 percent from the June 2019 count of 947,112 visitors (air and cruise). In comparison, only 17,068 visitors arrived by air in June 2020.

A total of 2,751,849 visitors arrived in the first half of 2021, up 27.6 percent compared to the first half of 2020. Total arrivals were 46.8 percent lower than the 5,171,182 visitors in the first half of 2019.

During June 2021, most passengers arriving from out-of-state and traveling inter-county could bypass the State’s mandatory 10-day self-quarantine with a valid negative COVID-19 NAAT test result from a Trusted Testing Partner prior to their departure to Hawaii through the Safe Travels program. In addition, individuals who were fully vaccinated in Hawaii could bypass the quarantine order beginning June 15, 2021. Inter-county travel restrictions were lifted also as of June 15, 2021. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) enforced restrictions on cruise ships through a “Conditional Sail Order.”

The average daily census showed that there were 255,936 visitors in Hawaii on any given day in June 2021, compared to 15,223 visitors per day in June 2020, versus 277,930 visitors per day in June 2019.

In June 2021, 521,796 visitors arrived from the U.S. West, well above the 10,149 visitors (+5,041.2%) in June 2020 and exceeding the June 2019 count of 452,958 visitors (+15.2%). U.S. West visitors spent US$916.4 million in June 2021, which surpassed the USUS$691.2 million (+32.6%) spent in June 2019. Higher average daily visitor spending (US$188 per person, +9.9%) and a longer average length of stay (9.34 days, +4.7%) also contributed to the growth in U.S. West visitor expenditures compared to 2019.

There were 247,382 visitors from the U.S. East in June 2021, compared to 5,596 visitors (+4,320.8%) in June 2020, and 240,223 visitors (+3.0%) in June 2019. U.S. East visitors spent US$513.3 million in June 2021 compared to US$491.1 million (+4.5%) in June 2019. A longer length of stay (10.28 days, +5.6%) also contributed to the increase in U.S. East visitor expenditures. Daily spending (US$202 per person) was lower compared to June 2019 (US$210 per person).

There were 1,859 visitors from Japan in June 2021, compared to 40 visitors (+4,567.3%) in June 2020, versus 126,592 visitors (-98.5%) in June 2019. Visitors from Japan spent US$7.4 million in June 2021 compared to US$182.0 million (-96.0%) in June 2019.

Only 627 visitors arrived from Canada in June 2021, compared to 57 visitors (+1,000.2%) in June 2020, versus 19,172 visitors (-96.7%) in June 2019.

There were 19,390 visitors from All Other International Markets in June 2021. Many of these visitors were from Guam, and a small number of visitors were from Other Asia, Europe, Latin America, Oceania, Philippines and Pacific Islands. In comparison, there were 1,226 visitors (+1.481.3%) from All Other International Markets in June 2020, versus 107,428 visitors (-82.0%) in June 2019.

In June 2021, a total of 4,804 trans-Pacific flights (+898.8% vs. June 2020, -11.0% vs. June 2019) and 994,026 seats (+799.0% vs. June 2020, -15.9% vs. June 2019) serviced the Hawaiian Islands. That included the U.S. West (835,781 seats), U.S. East (131,564 seats) and Guam (9,800 seats); and limited service from Japan (7,686 seats), Korea (2,224 seats) and Manila (927 seats).

In June 2020, there were 481 flights and 110,570 seats, with service from U.S. West (91,334 seats), U.S. East (only from Dallas, 6,318 seats), Guam (10,920 seats) and Manila (1,545 seats).

In June 2019, there were 5,399 flights and 1,182,276 seats, with service from U.S. West (784,087 seats), U.S. East (114,333 seats), Japan (155,388 seats), Oceania (40,407 seats), Other Asia (37,900 seats), Canada (16,890 seats) and Other Markets (27,398 seats).

Other Highlights:

U.S. West: In June 2021, 412,153 visitors arrived from the Pacific region and 109,636 visitors came from the Mountain region. California and Oregon had no quarantine requirements for travelers. In Washington, returning residents were advised to follow travel recommendations from the CDC.

In terms of accommodations, 51.8 percent of U.S. West visitors in June 2021 stayed in hotels, 20.4 percent stayed in condominiums, 11.6 percent stayed in rental homes, 11.0 percent stayed with friends and relatives and 10.8 percent stayed in timeshares.

Through the first half of 2021, there were 1,865,897 visitors from the U.S. West compared to 927,890 visitors (+101.1%) in the first half of 2020, versus 2,258,313 visitors (-17.4%) in the first half of 2019. For the first half of 2021, total visitor spending was US$3.19 billion, down 7.2 percent from US$3.44 billion in the first half of 2019.

Daily visitor spending in the first half of 2021 was US$179 per person, up slightly from US$176 per person (+1.8%) in the first half of 2019. Food and beverage, transportation and shopping expenses increased while lodging and entertainment and recreation expenses were lower compared to the first half of 2019.

U.S. East: Of the 247,382 U.S. East visitors in June 2021, the majority were from the West South Central (65,089 visitors), South Atlantic (61,212 visitors), and East North Central (42,196 visitors) regions. In New York, travelers were not required to submit traveler health forms but were advised to follow CDC travel recommendations.

In terms of lodging, 58.3 percent of U.S. East visitors in June 2021 stayed in hotels, 16.5 percent stayed in condominiums, 12.9 percent stayed with friends and relatives, 11.8 percent stayed in rental homes and 8.5 percent stayed in timeshares.

Through the first half of 2021, there were 807,922 visitors from the U.S. East compared to 523,780 visitors (+54.2%) in the first half of 2020, versus 1,186,360 visitors (-31.9%) in the first half of 2019. For the first half of 2021, total visitor spending was US$1.63 billion, a decrease of 32.3 percent from US$2.41 billion in the first half of 2019.

Daily visitor spending in the first half of 2021 was US$191 per person, compared to US$208 per person (-8.4%) in the first half of 2019. Lodging, food and beverage, and entertainment and recreation expenses decreased while transportation and shopping expenses were higher compared to the first

half of 2019.

Japan: Of the 1,859 visitors in June 2021, 1,644 arrived on international flights from Japan and 215 came on domestic flights. The Japan government required proof of a negative PCR test for all entry into Japan. In addition, all travelers, including returning Japanese nationals, were required to quarantine for 14 days.

Nearly all (95.4%) visitors from Japan in June 2021 made their own travel arrangements. In terms of lodging, 46.5 percent stayed in hotels, 28.4 percent stayed with friends and relatives, 20.8 percent stayed in condominiums, 6.8 percent stayed in timeshares and 3.3 percent stayed in rental homes.

Through the first half of 2021, there were 7,448 visitors from Japan compared to 294,295 visitors (-97.5%) in the first half of 2020, versus 734,235 visitors (-99.0%) in the first half of 2019. For the first half of 2021, total visitor spending was US$27.7 million, a drop of 97.3 percent from US$1.03 billion in the first half of 2019.

Canada: All 627 visitors in June 2021 arrived on domestic flights. Direct flights from Canada were suspended. Travelers to Canada, including returning Canadian nationals, were required to take a COVID-19 molecular test upon arrival, and another test toward the end of their mandatory 14-day quarantine. Prior to departure to Canada, most travelers were required to reserve a three-night stay in a government-authorized hotel. In addition, they were required to submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, electronically via ArriveCAN before boarding their flight.

Most of the visitors in June 2021 were independent travelers (88.2%). In terms of lodging, 47.5 percent stayed in hotels, 18.5 percent stayed in condominiums, 16.5 percent stayed with friends and relatives, 12.6 percent stayed in rental homes and 4.8 percent stayed in timeshares.

Through the first half of 2021, there were 5,434 visitors from Canada compared to 155,821 visitors (-96.5%) in the first half of 2020, versus 315,535 visitors (-98.3%) in the first half of 2019.

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