The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) has reported an increase in visitor numbers to the Hawaiian Islands for December 2024. Preliminary statistics indicate that 910,055 visitors arrived during the month, marking a 5.5% rise compared to December of the previous year. Visitor spending reached $2.04 billion, up by 4.7% from December 2023.
December's figures reflect the fifth consecutive month of growth in both arrivals and expenditures. The total number of visitors represents a recovery rate of 95.5% from pre-pandemic levels in December 2019, when there were 952,441 visitors.
Most visitors arrived by air service, with a total of 892,000 travelers primarily from the U.S. West and East regions. Additionally, out-of-state cruise ships brought in 18,055 visitors.
The average length of stay for all visitors was slightly shorter at 9.10 days compared to previous years. The daily census showed an average of 267,000 visitors present in Hawaii during December.
A breakdown by region shows that U.S. West visitor numbers increased to 452,023 in December 2024, with spending reaching $922.4 million. Similarly, U.S. East visitor arrivals rose to 228,169 with expenditures totaling $609.4 million.
Japanese visitor numbers saw a slight increase to 70,825 but remained significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels due to reduced length of stay and spending per person.
Canadian visitor numbers decreased to 53,203 compared to prior years; however, their daily spending per person increased notably from pre-pandemic figures.
Visitors from other international markets totaled 87,779 for December.
Air capacity also saw an increase with more transpacific flights and seats available compared to December last year but remained below pre-pandemic levels.
For the entire calendar year of 2024, Hawaii welcomed a total of 9,689,113 visitors with total spending amounting to $20.68 billion.
"Hawai‘i’s tourism industry in 2024 continued to recover from the August 2023 Maui wildfires," stated DBEDT Director James Kunane Tokioka. He noted encouraging data showing growth in both arrivals and spending for the latter part of the year despite challenges such as potential impacts from recent Los Angeles wildfires on future visitor numbers.
The cruise industry performed well with notable increases in visitor arrivals via cruise ships surpassing both last year's and pre-pandemic figures.
Looking ahead into this year’s prospects amid ongoing challenges remains cautiously optimistic as efforts continue towards supporting affected communities impacted by natural disasters across key source markets like California where significant portions originate annually according officials’ statements released alongside these findings recently shared publicly through official channels including press releases distributed widely among stakeholders involved directly or indirectly within sector operations statewide nationally internationally alike ensuring transparency accountability maintained throughout process undertaken collectively collaboratively moving forward together united common goals objectives set forth achieving desired outcomes envisioned long-term sustainable growth development initiatives implemented effectively efficiently over time benefiting everyone involved positively ultimately resulting success achieved overall eventually realized fully maximized potential 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