Trouble in paradise.
Hawaii visitor count drops 7.4% in MayBut May numbers prove hardy considering loss of carriers, rising prices
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
The number of visitors arriving in the Islands fell more than 7 percent in May and visitor spending declined for the first time in more than a year — more fallout from the recent shutdown of two airlines and the exit of two of three cruise ships based in Hawai'i.
The number of visitors arriving by both air and cruise ship last month dropped 7.4 percent to 554,399, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Spending by those who came by air — the vast majority of visitors — fell to $887.8 million, a 2.9 percent decline from May 2007. It was the first decline since April 2007, when visitor spending fell 1.9 percent. State economists are forecasting visitor arrivals to fall 3 percent this year, with spending rising 0.5 percent.
"It's harder to get here these days," said Ina Mohr, of Surfside Beach, Texas, who was vacationing on O'ahu this week, her third trip to Hawa'i. Mohr said higher prices and fewer flights have made it more difficult to make the trip.
"It's harder to get anywhere," she added.
Hawai'i's No. 1 industry has been hit by a string of setbacks this year. They include:
The twin shutdowns of Aloha Airlines and ATA Airlines in late March and early April.
The departure of the NCL Hawai'i-based cruise ships the Pride of Aloha in May and Pride of Hawaii in February.
A slowing of U.S. economic growth.
The rapid rise in airfares due to record high oil prices.
The state has stepped up its marketing to counter the bad news. State tourism liaison Marsha Wienert expressed hope the increased marketing efforts "in our base market, U.S. West, will help stimulate demand for summer travel."
Wienert said, "May statistics are better than anticipated especially since it is the first month to report the effects of the loss of two home-ported cruise ships and increased airfares."
The state is also looking optimistically at the potential for two smaller visitor markets that are on the rise, Wienert said.
"We continue to be pleased with the performance of the Canada and other Asia markets and anticipate further growth especially in the China market because Chinese are now able to visit the U.S. as leisure group travelers," Wienert said.
The first group of Chinese leisure travelers under a new agreement between the U.S. and China are visiting Hawai'i this week.
Daily spending up
Visitors who do come to the Islands are spending more, but not enough to make up for the drop in number of visitors.
Daily spending was $185 per person, compared with $179 per person in May 2007. Total spending by those who arrived by air — nearly all visitors — was $887.8 million last month, down 2.9 percent, or $26.7 million, from the same month last year.
In May, visitors spent less time in the Islands — total visitor days for air and cruise visitors decreased 6.9 percent compared with May 2007.
Among the top four visitor markets, arrivals fell 12.7 percent from the U.S. West, 7.7 percent from the U.S. East and 6.2 percent from Japan. Arrivals from Canada rose 13.7 percent.
Visitors arriving by cruise ship dropped to 5,382 in May, down from 12,485 in May 2007.
Gayle and Clint Anderson, of Auburn, Ala., flew here Sunday for a weeklong honeymoon. Even with prices rising and travel choices dwindling, Gayle said they had their hearts set on a Hawai'i honeymoon.
"The first thing that we did was book this," she said.
The pair looked relaxed, tan and happy as they watched a lunchtime dolphin show yesterday at Sea Life Park. They had already visited Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Waikiki Beach — "everything we can squeeze in" and even Schofield Barracks, where Clint was stationed. He is retiring from the Army this month.
More Canadian visitors
Some other report highlights include:
The 13.7 percent growth in arrivals from Canada was the 10th consecutive month of increases since August 2007. Year-to-date, Canadian arrivals rose 26.8 percent to 184,320 visitors.
Only three out-of-state cruise ships visited the Islands during May compared with seven in May 2007.
In May 2008, arrivals from the U.S. East South Central region rose 9 percent but arrivals from the Pacific (-13.6 percent), Mountain (-10.1 percent), West North Central (-1.3 percent), West South Central (-12.9 percent), East North Central (-3.6 percent), New England (-7 percent), Middle Atlantic (-6.4 percent) and South Atlantic (-14.8 percent) regions were lower compared with the same month last year.
Among the four larger islands, visitor spending in May 2008 was strongest on O'ahu with an 18.9 percent growth in daily spending per person ($209 per person compared with $176 per person in May 2007) and a 14.4 percent increase in total expenditures.
Japanese arrivals decreased 6.2 percent in May 2008 affecting O'ahu (-6.6 percent), Kaua'i (-26.8 percent) and Hawai'i Island (-13.9 percent). Japanese arrivals to Maui rose slightly by 0.6 percent compared with May 2007.
Daily spending by Japanese visitors was up 6.6 percent to $285 per person in May.
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