Visitor arrivals to Hawaii during March 2021 rose 1.1 percent compared to a year ago, according to preliminary statistics released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). This was the first time in a year where visitor arrivals were up, but the year-to-date arrivals were still significantly down (-60.1%). A total of 439,785 visitors traveled to Hawaii by air service last month, compared to 434,856 visitors who came by air service (430,691, +2.1%) and cruise ships (4,165 visitors) in March 2020. The average daily census showed that there were 137,440 visitors in Hawaii on any given day in March 2021, compared to 127,760 visitors per day in March 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic started taking a drastic toll on Hawaii’s visitor industry a year ago. On March 26, 2020, the state implemented a 14-day mandatory travel quarantine. Subsequently, nearly all trans-Pacific and interisland flights were canceled, cruise ship activities were suspended and tourism all but stopped. This continued until mid-October when the state initiated the Safe Travels program, which allowed trans-Pacific travelers to bypass the quarantine if they had a valid negative test for COVID-19.

During March 2021, most passengers arriving from out-of-state and traveling inter-county could bypass the State’s mandatory 10-day self-quarantine with a valid negative COVID-19 NAAT test result from a Trusted Testing Partner through the state’s Safe Travels program. All trans-Pacific travelers participating in the pre-travel testing program were required to have a negative test result before their departure to Hawaii. Kauai County continued to temporarily suspend its participation in the state’s Safe Travels program, making it mandatory for all trans-Pacific travelers to Kauai to quarantine upon arrival except for those participating in a pre- and post-travel testing program at a “resort bubble” property as a way to shorten their time in quarantine. The counties of Hawaii, Maui and Kalawao (Molokai) also had a partial quarantine in place in March. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continued to enforce the “Conditional Sailing Order” on all cruise ships.

In March, most of the visitors were from the U.S. West (296,117, +47.4%) and U.S. East (133,162, +10.8%). In addition, 1,051 visitors came from Japan (-97.7%) and 326 visitors came from Canada (-98.8%). There were 9,129 visitors from All Other International Markets (-75.9%). Many of these visitors were from Guam, and a small number of visitors were from Other Asia, Europe, Latin America, Oceania, Philippines and Pacific Islands. Total visitor days1 increased 7.6 percent.

Total visitor spending in March was $745.9 million2. U.S. West visitors spent $492.4 million (+55.4%), and their average daily spending was $176 per person (-1.1%). U.S. East visitors spent $249.8 million (+8.4%) and $188 per person, per day (-6.5%). Visitors from Japan spent $3.7 million (-94.5%), and their daily spending was $213 per person, per day (-10.9%). Visitor spending data from other markets were not available.

There were 3,266 (-23.4%) trans-Pacific flights that serviced the Hawaiian Islands in March. This represented a total of 665,209 air seats, down 29.5 percent from a year ago. There were no scheduled seats from Oceania, and considerably fewer scheduled seats from Canada (-97.5%), Japan (-94.0%) and Other Asia (-91.8%). Seats from U.S. East (-15.3%) and U.S. West (-9.7%) also declined to a lesser extent. Seats from Other countries (Guam and Manila) increased (+96.5%) compared to a year ago.

First Quarter 2021

For the first quarter of 2021, total visitor spending was $1.51 billion3. Spending by visitors from U.S. West (-35.0% to $982.6 million), U.S. East (-56.4% to $503.8 billion) and Japan (-97.4% to $10.9 million) decreased compared to the same period last year. Available data for Canada showed $17.2 million in visitor spending in the first two months of 2021.

Total arrivals in the first quarter declined 60.1 percent due to fewer visitors who came by air from U.S. West (-37.0% to 572,998), U.S. East (-51.8% to 247,849), Canada (-97.6% to 3,716), Japan (-99.0% to 2,910) and All Other International Markets (-91.2% to 19,570). Additionally, there were no cruise activities in the first quarter of 2021, versus 29,792 visitors who arrived aboard 20 out-of-state cruise ships in the same period last year. Total visitor days dropped 52.4 percent.

Other Highlights:

U.S. West: In March 2021, 212,596 visitors arrived from the Pacific region, up from 140,981 visitors a year ago, and 83,515 visitors came from the Mountain region compared to 56,543 a year ago. In terms of accommodations, 47.0 percent of U.S. West visitors stayed in hotels, 23.6 percent stayed in condominiums, 12.6 percent stayed in rental homes, 12.4 percent stayed with friends and relatives, and 10.3 percent stayed in timeshares.

Through the first quarter of 2021, visitor arrivals decreased from both the Pacific (-38.7%) and Mountain (-24.9%) regions. Year-to-date, per person per day visitor spending decreased to $165 (-10.9%). Shopping expenses were higher, while lodging, food and beverage, transportation, and entertainment and recreation expenses decreased compared to the first quarter of 2020.

Key U.S. West markets had travel restrictions in place during March 2021. California residents were advised to quarantine for 10 days after re-entering their state. In Oregon, returning residents were advised to self-quarantine for 14 days after their return. Quarantine recommendations did not apply to returning residents who were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and had no COVID-19 symptoms. In Washington, all air passengers were required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within three days of departure. In addition, returning Washington residents were directed to self-quarantine for 14 days after out-of-state travel.

U.S. East: Of the 133,162 U.S. East visitors in March 2021, the majority were from the East North Central (34,062, +61.9%), West South Central (29,787, +7.6%) and South Atlantic (23,895, +15.3%) regions. In terms of lodging, 54.6 percent of U.S. East visitors stayed in hotels, 17.0 percent stayed in condominiums, 14.3 percent stayed with friends and relatives, 11.5 percent stayed in rental homes and 9.2 percent stayed in timeshares.
Through the first quarter of 2021, visitor arrivals declined from all U.S. East regions. Year-to-date, daily visitor spending decreased to $173 per person compared to $218 per person in the same period last year. Lodging, food and beverage, transportation, and entertainment and recreation expenses were lower, while shopping expenses increased compared to March 2020.

In New York, all travelers, including returning residents, had the option to “test out” of the mandatory 10-day quarantine for asymptomatic individuals. A COVID-19 test was required within three days before their return to New York, followed by three days of quarantine. On the fourth day of their quarantine, a second COVID-19 test was required. If both tests came back negative, they could exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative test.

Japan: Of the 1,051 visitors in March 2021, 950 visitors arrived on international flights from Japan and 101 came on domestic flights. Nearly all (98.6%) visitors made their own travel arrangements. In terms of lodging, 52.3 percent stayed in hotels, 26.9 percent stayed in condominiums, 14.5 percent stayed with friends and relatives, 6.8 percent stayed in rental homes and 2.5 percent stayed in timeshares.

Through the first quarter of 2021, there were 2,910 visitors from Japan (-99.0%). Year-to-date per person per day visitor spending declined to $206 (-14.4%). Lodging expenses increased while food and beverage, shopping, entertainment and recreation, and transportation expenses declined.

In March, the Japan government required proof of a negative PCR test for all entry into Japan. In addition, all travelers, including returning Japanese nationals, were required to quarantine for 14 days.

Canada: Of the 326 visitors in March 2021, 109 visitors arrived on direct flights from Canada while 217 visitors arrived on domestic flights. Most of the visitors were independent travelers (98.2%). In terms of lodging, 29.6 percent stayed in hotels, 25.0 percent stayed with friends and relatives, 24.6 percent stayed in rental homes, 17.7 percent stayed in condominiums and 2.6 percent stayed in timeshares.

Through the first quarter of 2021, there were 3,716 visitors from Canada (-97.6%), down considerably from the same period last year.

Most travelers to Canada, including returning Canadian nationals, were required to take a COVID-19 molecular test when they arrived in Canada before exiting the airport, and another toward the end of their mandatory 14-day quarantine period. Most air travelers were required to reserve, prior to departure to Canada, a three-night stay in a government-authorized hotel. In addition, they were required to submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, electronically via ArriveCAN before boarding their flight.

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