Report: Trend of higher visitor spending continues

Visitors to Maui spent $549.8M in June, an increase over pre-pandemic numbers

Visitors to Maui are still shelling out far more on their vacations than they did pre-pandemic, even as fewer people are arriving than before the COVID-spurred travel slowdowns.

Visitors to Maui spent a total of $549.8 million in June, a 15.2 percent increase over the $477.1 million they spent in June 2019, according to the latest report released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism on Thursday.

Meanwhile, there were 288,333 visitors arriving by air to Maui in June, a 2.6 percent decline from the 295,926 visitors reported in June 2019, though it may feel like much more for many people heading to the Kahului Airport, where long lines prompted state transportation officials earlier this month to urge people to arrive even earlier to make their flights.

Other islands have been seeing a similar trend of fewer visitors but higher spending. Statewide, visitors spent $1.83 billion in June, an increase of 12.3 percent compared to the $1.63 billion reported for June 2019. At the same time, arrivals by air and cruise ship to Hawaii totaled 842,927 in June, a decrease of 11 percent from the 947,112 arrivals in June 2019.

A total of 1,118 visitors came by cruise ship in June, though a breakdown by island was not available.

Kauai and Maui were the two islands that came the closest to the visitor arrivals they saw prior to the pandemic. Kauai saw 133,517 visitors by air in June, nearly level with the 134,790 visitors who came in June 2019. Visitors there spent $231.2 million in June, up 17.9 percent from the $196.1 million they spent in June 2019.

Hawaii island also came just shy of its pre-pandemic numbers, with 157,443 visitors arriving by air last month compared to the 163,564 visitors in June 2019. Visitors spent $247.2 million, up 20.1 percent from the $205.8 million they spent in June 2019.

While spending was up on Oahu as well, the typically busiest island trailed its pre-pandemic arrivals more than most, with 437,769 arrivals in June, down 22.2 percent from the 562,749 visitors recorded in June 2019. Spending reached $787.9 million, up 6.8 percent from the $738.1 million visitors spent in June 2019.

Molokai and Lanai also saw gains in spending amid declines in visitor arrivals. On Lanai, 6,082 visitors arrived in June, a 32.6 percent decrease from the 9,020 who came in June 2019, and spent $12.8 million, a 15.5 percent increase from the $11.1 million they spent in June 2019.

On Molokai, visitor arrivals tumbled to 3,549 in June, down 38.5 percent from the 5,776 who came in June 2019. Spending rose 14.1 percent from $2.3 million in June 2019 to $2.6 million last month.

Travelers tend to spend the most per trip on Lanai and Maui; per person per trip spending in June averaged a state high $2,110.70 on Lanai, followed by Maui at $1,906.90 and Oahu at $1,799.80.

"We continue to be optimistic in the recovery of the visitor industry for the prosperity of our communities and businesses but know that with the reach of the Omircron's new variant, the visitor industry's healthy return can easily be impacted," DBEDT Director Mike McCartney said in a statement. "Continuing to practice COVID safe health habits is foremost in keeping Hawaii economically robust."

Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO John De Fries pointed out that "average daily visitor spending in Hawaii increased significantly for the first half of 2022," with higher gains on the U.S. West and East Coasts and the Canadian markets.

Halfway through the year, Maui has seen a total of 1,406,058 visitors, a 7.7 percent decline from the 1,522,534 visitors arriving in the first half of 2019, according to the report. Visitors to Maui have spent $2.79 billion through the first six months of 2022, a 6.9 percent increase over the $2.61 billion spent in the first half of 2019.

Statewide through the first half of 2022, total visitor spending was $9.23 billion, up 4.2 percent from the $8.86 billion spent in the first half of 2019. Visitor arrivals reached 4,431,332 in the first half of the year, a 14.3 percent decrease from the 5,171,182 arrivals in the first half of 2019.

"This significant shift indicates our current visitors are spending substantially more on their Hawaii trip, counter to the misperception that we are seeing a lower-spending, budget traveler," Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO John De Fries said in a statement. "Even with these higher-spending visitors, we must continue our efforts in destination management to ensure the balance of economic benefits with environmental and community wellbeing."

* Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com.