EN
CN
JATourism Down 14.9%
Hawaii tourism experienced another drop today with new numbers showing visitor numbers down by roughly 15%. The decrease in the visitor numbers also reflects a slowing of tourist spending. Expenditures by air travelers in July were down 14.9 percent, or $177.3 million. Average daily spending per visitor was down 2.8 percent to $175 a day.
The large drop was similar to reductions of around 14% felt in June.
The new numbers prompted Governor Linda Lingle to call a meeting with hotel executives and propose shifting $10 million in government spending to more aggressively market the state. Business leaders are also calling on money set aside for cultural events by the Hawaii Tourism Authority be shifted into increased marketing for the state.
The current HTA budget includes allocations for advertising in Japan ($7.8 million), Asian countries including China and Korea ($1.7 million), Oceania/Australia/New Zealand ($900,000),
Europe ($883,000) and North America ($22.3 million). HTA also spends money on promoting the Hawaii Convention Center ($6.5 million), HVCB meetings and convention market ($2.7 million) and events including the Pro Bowl and the PGA ($11.4 million).
While most of the hotel leaders at the meeting indicated that they were reaching out to the kamaaina market with special rates and package deals, the general consensus was the need to bring new money into the state if the industry was to survive.
