HAWAII TOURISM PERFORMANCE ON PACE TO TOP 2012
Hawaii’s tourism economy continues to do well, and 2013 continues to be on pace for another record-setting year in arrivals and visitor expenditures, says the Hawaii Tourism Authority. While 2012 was a record year, 2013 arrivals are up 5.5% and expenditures up 5.7% year-to-date. “Our overall economy is recovering with low unemployment and a strong state budget, which is a direct result of the collective efforts of our visitor industry and good will from our community,” said Mike McCartney (pictured), CEO of the HTA. So far this year, visitors spent an average of $41 million per day — $20 million on Oahu, $11 million in Maui County, $5 million on Hawaii Island and $4 million on Kauai. In order for us to maintain this momentum, it is important that we continue to invest in our destination and we are grateful for the renewed funding from the Hawaii State Legislature to achieve this.”
Maintaining and increasing air access, distributing visitors across all of the Hawaiian Islands and diversifying the market mix by increasing the Meetings, Conventions and Incentives (MCI) business will be priorities in the second half of the year, said the CEO. “In the long term, it is important that we support the development and redevelopment of our communities to improve the infrastructure and quality of life in master planned regions, such as Ko Olina, Banyan Drive in Hilo, Wailea, Princeville and Kona,” added McCartney. (http://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org)
