Tourism experts remain optimistic about the outlook for Hawaii’s visitor industry, even as competition from other destinations continues to intensify.
At an annual travel forecast forum held in Waikiki, representatives from the Pacific Asia Travel Association and the Travel and Tourism Research Association emphasized the importance of remaining aware of growing competition, including expanded marketing efforts and increased direct flights from destinations such as Fiji to the U.S. West Coast.
Despite a slight year-over-year decline in visitor arrivals in December, overall visitor spending increased. This growth was driven in part by older travelers, who tend to have higher spending power.
Experts also noted that Hawaii continues to benefit from its strong brand identity and relatively robust airlift capacity.
Looking ahead, new nonstop flight routes and the “Hawaii Stays With You” marketing campaign are expected to help sustain demand and reinforce the resilience of Hawaii’s tourism industry.
Source: Tourism experts still optimistic about Hawaii, despite increasing competition