Hawaii Tourism Is Rebounding But Japan Remains A Barrier … Japan, which is Hawaii’s third-largest market, has eased most restrictions on travel, raising hopes a significant return of tourists may be near.
Riding pent-up demand from U.S. travelers, Hawaii’s tourism industry is heading toward the summer with momentum approaching that of the heady days before the Covid-19 pandemic when the state posted record numbers.
Now, economists and industry executives say, there’s just one big piece of the puzzle missing: visitors from Japan. The good news is that a significant return of tourists from Hawaii’s third-largest market appears to be on the horizon.
Even without Japan, Hawaii is on a roll. The state greeted more than 25,000 air passengers a day on average for March, approaching pre-pandemic levels, according to Eugene Tian, Hawaii’s chief state economist. And while there aren’t quite as many tourists as before the pandemic, those who are coming are spending more.
