Year-to-date, total visitor spending stayed strong at $3.53 billion compared to $3.01 billion (+17.6%) in the first two months of 2019. Domestic spending helped to offset expenditures from our key international visitor source markets which are continuing to recover at a modest pace.
The State of Hawai‘i’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) released its February 2023 visitor statistics report. The strength of domestic visitor spending remained positive for Hawai‘i’s businesses and overall economy in February 2023, with 48 percent growth from the U.S. West and 19.2 percent growth from the U.S. East compared to February 2019. Each of Hawai‘i’s four counties also saw increased spending with fewer visitors compared to February 2019.
Year-to-date, total visitor spending stayed strong at $3.53 billion compared to $3.01 billion (+17.6%) in the first two months of 2019. Domestic spending helped to offset expenditures from our key international visitor source markets which are continuing to recover at a modest pace.
The state Council on Revenues and University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization agree that a softening of the global economy will impact Hawai‘i, particularly our tourism industry. With this forecast of economic uncertainty on the horizon, we must continue our forward momentum in delivering on our 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, investing in our community, building the systems and infrastructure for destination management, and focusing on visitor education.
Cruise Ship Visitors
In February 2023, 20,110 visitors came to the islands aboard nine out-of-state cruise ships. Another 9,563 visitors flew to the state to board the Hawai‘i home-ported cruise ship, Pride of America.
In February 2022, 6,956 visitors (+189.1%) came aboard four out-of-state cruise ships. The Pride of America continued to suspend interisland cruises in February 2022.
In February 2019, 16,315 visitors (+23.3%) arrived on eight out-of-state cruise ships (+12.5%); and another 9,046 visitors (+5.7%) came by air to board the Pride of America.
In the first two months of 2023, 36,759 visitors came to Hawai‘i by way of 17 out-of-state cruise ships and 18,525 visitors flew to Hawai‘i and boarded the Pride of America. In the first two months of 2022, 13,960 visitors entered the state via 11 out-of-state cruise ships. In the first two months of 2019, 28,348 visitors came to Hawai‘i aboard 15 out-of-state cruise ships and 18,404 visitors flew to Hawai‘i and boarded the Pride of America.
DBEDT Director Chris J. Sadayasu comments: “The overall visitor count recovered 96.7 percent during the first two months of 2023 as compared with the same period in 2019, and the recovery rate has been over 90 percent every month during the past six months. International visitor counts have been between 50 and 60 percent of the 2019 levels during the last five months. As currently scheduled, the number of flights from the U.S. mainland will reduce by 2,279 in 2023, but flights from international markets will increase by 3,445 with a net increase of 1,166. A slowdown in arrivals from the U.S. mainland, and an increase in international arrivals is expected in 2023. Tourism on O‘ahu will see better improvement in 2023 due to the preferences of foreign visitors, especially Japanese visitors. Visitor statistics showed that 42.9 percent of O‘ahu visitors were foreign visitors, while foreigners accounted for 14.8 percent in Maui County, 11.6 percent in Kaua‘i County, and 22.8 percent in Hawai‘i County in 2019.”
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority appoints Isaac Choy as Vice President of Finance
Also, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) announced that Isaac Choy, a former Hawai‘i State Tax Director and lawmaker in the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives, has been appointed as Vice President of Finance.
Choy begins work on April 10 and will be responsible for overseeing HTA’s management of finances and government funding, including compliance with legislative and auditing requirements, and budgeting of programs, initiatives and community organizations supported statewide by HTA.
A Certified Public Accountant with his own accounting practice since 1983, Choy brings extensive experience to HTA’s operations in management, taxation, accounting and auditing, and the servicing of public, government, and not-for-profit organizations. He most recently served as Director of the Hawai‘i State Department of Taxation from 2020 through 2022.
Choy was elected to five terms in the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives serving the Mānoa district from 2008 through 2018. He chaired the House Committee on Higher Education, and also served on the committees overseeing tourism, finance, economic development, military affairs, and agriculture. After choosing not to run for re-election, Choy served as controller of a local health center from 2018 to 2020 before being appointed as the Hawai‘i State Tax Director.
“Isaac Choy’s reputation as a devoted public servant and his credentials in finance will be extremely valuable in helping HTA to fulfill its focus on managing tourism for the benefit of Hawai‘i’s future generations,” said John De Fries, HTA’s President and CEO. “His experience and understanding about the workings of the executive and legislative branches of government are a rarity, and we are privileged to have him come aboard to support HTA.”
Choy noted that he welcomed the opportunity to offer his expertise to the state’s only agency solely dedicated to serving Hawai‘i’s largest industry. “Public service has been at the core of my personal and professional life and I believe it is important that HTA receives the guidance and support needed to ensure that tourism will continue to serve Hawai‘i properly and effectively,” said Choy. “I’m impressed by the leadership team that HTA has in place and energized about what HTA is trying to accomplish for the communities and people of Hawai‘i.”
Choy is active in numerous community organizations, including the Honolulu Community Action Program, Mānoa Neighborhood Security Watch, and community disaster preparedness organizations. He is also involved in business and professional organizations and has served as State President of the Hawaiʻi Association of Public Accountants. He has also participated in youth sports, coaching baseball, basketball, and softball for over a decade. A lifelong member of the Mānoa community, Choy graduated from Roosevelt High School and San Jose State University.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
