Hawaii enjoyed double-digit growth in total visitor spending in February, compared to the same period in 2017, according to preliminary data released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Travelers to the Aloha State spent $1.52 billion during the second month of 2018, a 12.7% year-over-year increase.
Total arrivals were also up double digits, with a 10% rise over February 2017, for a total of 778,571 visitors. Both arrivals by air service and cruise ships were up 10% and 8% respectively compared to last year. While daily spending per visitor was down slightly for the U.S. West market, with a roughly 4% drop, the average daily spend by travelers from the U.S. East (6%), Canada (9%) and Japan (11%) were all up.
"We saw significant growth in visitor spending from our major markets of the U.S. mainland, Japan and Canada, along with a strong resurgence from the other international markets where we promote travel to the Hawaiian Islands on a continuing basis," HTA CEO and President George D. Szigeti said in a statement.
The four major islands for visitors, Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai, all saw increases in arrivals and spending in February compared to last year.
Spending by travelers to Oahu jumped nearly 20% in February, "by far, the largest monthly increase year-over-year for Oahu in several years," Szigeti said in the release.