Hawaii is a beautiful archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. With its stunning beaches, lush greenery, and rich cultural heritage, Hawaii attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.
But have you ever wondered how much money Hawaii makes from tourism annually? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Hawaii’s tourism industry and its economic impact on the state.
The Importance of Tourism Industry in Hawaii
Tourism is one of the main industries in Hawaii and contributes significantly to its economy. According to a report by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, tourism generated $17.75 billion in visitor spending in 2019, which was an increase of 1.4% compared to the previous year. The same report states that tourism is responsible for supporting more than 200,000 jobs throughout the state.
Visitor Spending by Type
Visitor spending can be broken down into different categories such as lodging, food and beverage, transportation, activities and attractions, and retail. According to the same report by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, here’s how much money tourists spent in each category in 2019:
- Lodging: $5.5 billion
- Food and Beverage: $3.8 billion
- Transportation: $2.6 billion
- Activities and Attractions: $3.8 billion
- Retail: $1.4 billion
As you can see from these numbers, lodging and food & beverage are two of the biggest categories for visitor spending.
Visitor Spending by Island
Hawaii consists of several islands, each with its own unique attractions and activities for visitors to enjoy. Here’s how much money tourists spent on each island in 2019:
- Oahu: $8.4 billion
- Maui: $5.3 billion
- Hawaii Island: $2.7 billion
- Kauai: $2.0 billion
- Lanai: $110 million
- Molokai: $84 million
As you can see, Oahu and Maui are the two most popular islands for visitors, with the highest spending.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Hawaii’s Tourism Industry
Like many other tourist destinations around the world, Hawaii’s tourism industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Hawaii Governor David Ige declared a state of emergency and implemented strict measures to control the spread of the virus, including mandatory quarantine for all arriving travelers. As a result, visitor arrivals plummeted and many businesses were forced to close.
According to a report by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitor arrivals dropped by more than 99% in April 2020 compared to the same month in the previous year. However, as restrictions eased and travel began to resume later in the year, there was some recovery in visitor numbers.
Conclusion:
Hawaii’s tourism industry plays a crucial role in its economy, generating billions of dollars in visitor spending every year and supporting thousands of jobs throughout the state. However, like many other places around the world, Hawaii’s tourism industry has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and it remains to be seen how long it will take for full recovery.
As a top travel destination with its unique culture and beautiful landscapes that people from all over the world flock to see each year; it is safe to say that Hawaii’s tourism industry will continue to be a significant contributor to the state’s economy for years to come.