The State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) released its January 2024 visitor statistics report, showing a 3.6% decline in visitor arrivals and 4.5% decrease in visitor spending compared to January 2023. This marks the sixth consecutive month of lower visitor spending since the August 2023 Maui wildfires, demonstrating the continued need to support meaningful economic recovery for the state.

The State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) released its January 2024 visitor statistics report, showing a 3.6% decline in visitor arrivals and 4.5% decrease in visitor spending compared to January 2023. This marks the sixth consecutive month of lower visitor spending since the August 2023 Maui wildfires, demonstrating the continued need to support meaningful economic recovery for the state.

The recent UHERO First Quarter Forecast issued on February 23 also anticipates a downshift in Hawai‘i’s economy, citing that while Maui’s initial visitor recovery following the wildfires has proven to be somewhat stronger than expected, the rebuilding will take a long time with potential uncertainties ahead.

These headwinds bring the importance of HTA’s work into clear focus: to ensure that tourism’s benefits continue to flow to the many kamaʻāina who work in the visitor industry and our community at large.

In addition to our marketing efforts to ensure the invitation to visitors to return to Maui is clear, to further support the people of Maui and help stimulate the overall economy, HTA launched the Mākaukau Maui Campaign: sharing the voices of Maui residents who want and are ready to return to work. This is in addition to our ongoing work to inspire travel demand to all the Hawaiian Islands amongst mindful visitors.