Hawaii's tourism industry has rebounded post-pandemic, with increased tourist numbers and higher spending per trip. While demand is rising, travelers from Asia have yet to return due to pandemic restrictions. With border reopenings and upcoming changes in Hawaii's tourism scene, future travel to Hawaii is expected to be competitive and expensive. However, there are options to visit that offer crowd avoidance, minimize over-tourism, and save money.
Record High for Hawaii Tourism
Tourism in Hawaii has shown a strong recovery, with over 700,000 visitors in September 2022, a 95.5 percent rebound from the same month in 2019. While overall tourist numbers have not reached pre-pandemic levels, metrics such as spending, average trip length, and visitors from the rest of the U.S. have all seen significant increases. Increased spending may be influenced by inflation, but Hawaii's spending growth of 18.5 percent surpasses the nationwide increase in inflation.
Increase in Stays
Stays in Hawaii have become longer post-pandemic, possibly due to the rise of workcations. In September 2022, the average stay increased by 5.9 percent to 8.9 days compared to September 2019. Additionally, people are spending more on daily activities like hotels, tours, and food, with the average per person per day reaching $236, a 17.1 percent increase from pre-pandemic times. Oahu has seen the highest surge in average daily visitor spending, rising by 25 percent. This is the result of its investments in tourist-focused enhancements highlighting Hawaii's rich culture and history.
Lodging Demand May Surpass Supply
Despite the high demand, the lodging supply in Hawaii may remain relatively high. Most Hawaii residents are against the construction of new vacation rentals, hotels, condos, or timeshares. According to a recent survey, 77 percent of residents want to regulate illegal vacation rentals, while 64 percent oppose new vacation rentals altogether. The sentiments of nearly 2,000 residents were captured in the DBEDT's Spring 2022 Resident Sentiment Survey.
Caps on Tourism
Hawaii is implementing caps on tourist activities, including restrictions on non-residents' parking access at certain beach parks. Rising anti-tourism sentiment has led to a decrease in the perception that tourism brings more benefits than problems. However, on Oahu, pro-tourism sentiment has increased. At the same time, residents of Maui and Kauai feel that their islands are too dependent on tourism and prioritize the interests of locals over tourists. There is a call for resident-only days at parks and beaches on these islands.
Steady Recovery
Tourism in Hawaii is steadily recovering, with the number of tourists reaching 96 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The increase in tourists from the rest of the U.S. has been significant, up 29 percent in September 2022 compared to September 2021. However, tourism from Japan, which previously accounted for 15 percent of all tourists to Hawaii, is still down by 83 percent. The recent reopening of Japan's borders and the resumption of direct flights between the two destinations in August 2022 may shift these numbers, making travel to Hawaii more accessible for Japanese visitors.
About Kauai Rooftop Campers
Kauai Rooftop Campers offers a unique outdoor travel and camping experience, sharing the wild splendor of the island with visitors and locals. Through its association with Embracing the World, it donates a portion of its revenue to support charitable organizations worldwide. Discover the untamed beauty of Kauai and connect with nature and yourself.
Visit https://kauairooftopcampers.com/ to learn more.