Declining demand for Hawaiian travel

So where exactly do we stand when it comes to Hawaii travel demand? Coming into the spring and summer of 2022, there was so much going on that it was out of control and overwhelming for both visitors and residents. But what about fall 2022 and beyond? Trust us, everyone is wondering the same thing, so you’re not alone.

How much has the demand for travel to Hawaii fallen after the incredible highs seen earlier this year?

Yes, he said. And no, it didn’t. As you can see below, the signs are mixed.

1. State data shows that the number of arrivals is still high, but the differences are different.

As of Sept. 1, the state’s travel data dashboard shows an increase in August, showing an average of 27,301 domestic migrants per day. It was an increase of 14.6 percent compared to 2019 (the previous comparable year). And it was from spring 2022. But now he is seeing something. You can see it in the graph below. You can start to see it happen, some days starting in July had a lower attendance of domestic visitors than pre-Covid. And that trend continues.

2. Empirical evidence on the softening of Hawaii’s travel economy.

Here on the ground, we see smaller lines everywhere, in the airport and to get into restaurants, fewer tourist cars on the road, and reports from business owners on the islands that we’ve met with that demand is generally lower.

BOH editor Jeff also flew to the mainland this week, which you will be reading soon. The flight to the mainland had only 48 seats out of 147 seats. Meanwhile, another airline’s flight that shared the same departure lounge carried only 35 passengers and had a capacity of 175.

3. Reasons for declining travel in Hawaii.

These are all the reasons you probably know. They include ridiculous price increases on Hawaiian accommodations and other expenses. On the other hand, flights to Hawaii have remained relatively stable, at least so far, due to substantial competition. Other reasons are the feeling that Hawaii doesn’t need many visitors. Then there are significant factors that have little to do with Hawaii, including inflation and the state of the U.S. economy.

4. What does it mean for visitors??

Eventually prices may stop rising. The editors of the Beat of Hawaii will be in Honolulu for work next month, and the price they’re paying for the same modest housing is more than 200% higher than it was pre-Covid. Fewer flights may be available due to reduced demand. That could mean more route cancellations as well as flights that only operate a few days a week instead of every day. We have already seen, for example, that some flights on both Hawaiian Air and Alaska Air operate only 2-4 times per week.

An added benefit of travel delays is that you don’t have to wait in long TSA lines. Editor Jeff reports that he never waited in line at TSA for more than five minutes this week, both leaving Hawaii and returning to Hawaii from the mainland.

5. Do visitors still choose Hawaii?

Of course, they do. Jeff witnessed the excitement of the arrival of visitors on board a full flight yesterday. But post-Covid there are constraints, including cost consciousness at a much more significant level than it actually is. Travelers want to get the best possible value for their vacation dollar.

6. How visitors can benefit more.?

If you’re flexible with travel seasons and times, you’ll be in for some fun surprises. But for peak demand periods, the price will be higher and even higher.