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George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), issued the following statement regarding Hawaii’s visitor statistics results for May 2018.

“May was the fourth straight month that Hawaii’s tourism industry realized double-digit increases in air seat capacity and visitor spending, two key categories that are interrelated and vital to the state’s economic health. Trans-Pacific air seats serving Hawaii increased in May by 12.6 percent to nearly 1.1 million seats, while visitor spending grew to more than $1.42 billion, an increase of 11 percent.
“The growth in both categories is especially noteworthy as May has historically been an off-peak shoulder month for travel to the Hawaiian Islands. It’s encouraging to know that both air carriers and travel consumers expressed such confidence in Hawaii as a travel destination during May.
“All four island counties enjoyed strong increases in air seat capacity in May and through the first five months, with each county also benefiting from the increased visitor spending that has been generated. The increases in May’s air seat capacity from the U.S. West and U.S. East markets, at 15.6 percent and 14 percent, respectively, was instrumental to the growth in visitor spending for each county.
“State tax revenue generated by tourism continued to maintain an exceptional pace through May, increasing by 10.9 percent to $894.6 million thus far in 2018, which is $87.7 million more than was produced over the same period in 2017.
“Mahalo to all of our tourism industry professionals statewide for sharing the warmth of Hawaii’s aloha and hospitality with the thousands of visitors who arrive in the islands daily. They come here for a visitor experience found nowhere else, and the enjoyment begins with the goodwill and friendship extended to them by the dedicated professionals who make Hawaii’s largest industry such a great success.”