New arrivals and spending goals set by Hawaii Tourism Authority anticipate momentum from the first six months of this year will continue well into 2014.
The HTA board approved Thursday increasing its year-end spending predictions for 2012 to $13.9 billion, a 15.4 percent gain over 2011. The board also voted to increase its arrivals goal to 7.89 million tourists, which is 6.3 percent more than 2011.
"We’ve had a very good half of the year. It was very strong in our arrivals and spending versus the targets that we set in September," said Daniel Nahoopii, HTA director of tourism research.
HTA’s new targets are about 9 percent higher than the previous spending record of $12.8 billion reached in 2007 and about 2 percent higher than the record 7.628 million who came to Hawaii in 2006.
Nahoopii said HTA’s targets are balanced between forecasts from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization.
DBEDT’s 2012 forecast anticipates a 9 percent rise in spending and a 4.4 percent gain in arrivals. UHERO estimated spending will grow 15.7 percent in 2012 and arrivals will increase 9.3 percent.
Come 2013, the HTA’s goal for spending is a 6.9 percent increase to $14.88 billion. The board also has targeted a 3.5 percent gain for arrivals in 2013, which should reach 8.17 million.
DBEDT forecasts a 3.6 percent gain in 2013 spending and a 2.2 percent rise in arrivals. UHERO predicts spending will grow 8 percent, arrivals by 3 percent.
"For 2014 we feel we should do much better than they are predicting with extra marketing and air service," Nahoopii said.
In 2014 the HTA seeks to boost spending by 6 percent to $15.78 billion and arrivals by 3.2 percent. In contrast, DBEDT has forecast a 4.4 percent gain in 2014 spending and a 2.4 percent rise in arrivals. UHERO expects 2014 spending will grow by 2 percent and arrivals by 1.2 percent.
