Average nightly rates of $404 (incl. accommodation tax) are helping curtail Hawaii vacation enthusiasm.
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99 thoughts on “Why Hawaii Visitor Decline Persists | Latest Report”
Average nightly rates of $404 (incl. accommodation tax) are helping curtail Hawaii vacation enthusiasm.
Hawaii doesn’t like tourists. It is that simple. I can go to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, Panama, and have a great time at one half or one third of the price. And, all the local people want me there.
The main reason I am going less often is because it’s so damn expensive hotels, car rentals are the worst! Airfare follows has a close third…🤒
$404 a night is a ridiculous price. That’s why people aren’t coming. For the foreseeable future I’m only going to be connecting through Hawaii to other more affordable destinations. I’m going to Vanuatu in October and I only paid $75 a night for a Waterfront Villa! In Hawaii something like that would be $5k a night. Average people can’t afford it anymore.
We were planning a couple’s vacation, because we’ve always wanted to visit, but put simply, the prices were too high for everything – hotels, flights, you name it, so we went to the Caribbean. We’re not poor, but there comes a point when it just seems silly to spend that kind of money on something we can find elsewhere for much less. If Hawaii wants to restrict tourism, I’m all for it – people still have to be able to live on the island, and I applaud the State’s efforts to make that more possible. If the prices keep rising like they have, though, it’s only going to be the super rich visiting, which I hope works for the State. Honestly, I think it would make more sense to ban AirBnb and VRBO so that houses, condos and apartments are only used by people who live in them, and keep the hotels for the tourists, but that’s just me. Seems like otherwise Hawaii is looking at a never-ending cycle of price increases on everything that collapses the economy…
Aloha Will.
Be careful what you wish for. If all the houses and condos and apartments were only occupied by those who live there and the hotels were the only game in town, you can expect the exorbitant hotel rates to explode even further. Are you ready to pay $1000 per night plus fees at a minimum? How about $2000?
I’m confused ? Hawaii tourism chased me away a few years ago. Prices were going up. They wanted rentals restricted. They wanted the number of planes arriving to be cut. Some locals wanted me to not be there. Now they are complaining that tourism is Down ?
I miss Kauai, but have found other great places to enjoy spending my money…..
Controversial subject.
We are blessed to go twice a year. Retired on a fixed income.
We penny pinch and budget all year to pay for the 2 trips.
Everything everyone has said here about out of control $ increases is true.
The middle class and working class like us are being priced out in favor of the rich elite.
Less tourists and the ones who do go spend more $.
We live in SoCal/OC and worked 99 years total in the tourism industry.
Tourism is huge here and we welcome,need,and want you here.
This is what Hawaiians wanted and they got it. Congrats. You killed the Golden Goose!
Could it also be that fewer people want a hotel experience? Someone (besides the hotel industry) should do a study on lodging preferences. I wonder if there’s a trend the Hawaii is fighting?
Hawaii used to be something really special back in the 70’s and 80’s, when sugar cane and pineapples farms were part of the tourist experience. When you took a circle island tour and stopped at some great places to experience the Hawaiian culture and way of life. Now it’s all about fancy price gouging hotels, high end shopping, and restaurant chains. After reading the report and how much the prices have increased since 2019, I’m stunned and saddened. I know things must and do change, but Hawaii’s problem is the government that the locals voted into office and the changes they are making that are ruining the islands for everyone.
Hawaii is out-pricing itself as a tourist destination. Hotel accommodations and restaurant costs keep increasing. The middle class is having a very hard time making ends meet due to the high inflation. As a result, they are either not traveling or taking trips to less costly destinations.
Prices are high. Treatment of tourists is poor by locals. Not planning any more Maui or Kauai trips
If I lived on the mainland there is no way I would travel to Hawaii with hotel room rates on the Big Island over $350/night (plus taxes and resort fees)! Who can afford to pay that? And that’s without the cost of airfare, car rental, and food. As someone who owns a business dependent on tourism, I find this data truly frightening.