The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has released the final results of its visitor satisfaction survey taken by people visiting from the Continental U.S. who traveled to Hawaii between Oct. 1 and Oct. 5 of this year.
"We appreciate our visitors who understand the importance of Hawaii's restrictions related to COVID safety, which will continue to open up as the pandemic continues to trend the right way, thanks to the continued vigilance of our community," John De Fries, HTA’s president and CEO, told Big Island Now.
Among repeat visitors who had previously traveled to Hawaii before the state’s implementation of COVID-19 restrictions, 38% indicated their current trip was less satisfying due to those restrictions. But 90% of respondents said they were able to do everything they had planned on their trip, despite COVID-19 protocols.
Repeat visitors were more likely to be fully vaccinated, according to the survey. Most visitors rated their trip as “excellent,” according to Big Island Now. The survey also revealed that younger travelers were the most likely to feel that their trip exceeded their expectations.
“The great experience a visitor has in Hawaii is a direct result of the hard work of our residents working in the visitor industry, caring for our guests from the airport to the hotel, at attractions, restaurants, shopping centers, activities and beyond," De Fries said, according to Big Island Now.