According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, there were 5.2 percent fewer tourists who arrived in the Hawaiian Islands in March 2014 as compared to the same month a year prior. These 728,814 visitors spent a total of $1.2 billion, which was a decrease of 3.5 percent. President and CEO for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Mike McCartney, stated, "Following two record-breaking years in visitor spending and arrivals, we anticipated a slowdown in growth this year. While the outlook for the summer remains strong, we expect the fall shoulder period to be challenging, with increased competition, a strengthening U.S. dollar and increased taxes."
McCartney stated that the HTA will continue "to focus on enhancing our global marketing efforts to grow our market share from international regions, as arrivals from these areas continue to increase and help to balance the declines from mature markets like the U.S. West and U.S. East." The Hawaii Tourism Authority has high hopes that China will become a major market for Hawaii over the next few years. McCartney added, "There is significant growth in visitor spending from this market as Chinese visitors continue to be the highest daily spenders at $411 per person per day, as of March. We also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Shanghai Film Group to film the first Chinese major motion picture in the Hawaiian Islands. This will provide our state with tremendous exposure in China and help us to reach a vast population."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-29-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
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