How do we Attract New Visitors?

Aloha Kakou:

Visitors to Maui in October were fewer this year than last. They also spent about $2 less per day, according this article in today's Maui News.

Visitor numbers to Maui are only as high as they are due to timeshares. Timeshare owners have been paying for their trip all year and are reluctant to miss their week on the Valley Isle. Occupancies at hotel properties are lower than those for the island as a whole.

The bright spots are the increase in Canadian visitors as well as an increase in air seats from Japan, Taiwan and Korea.

Marsha Weinart, Hawaii's Tourism Liaison, says that while the number of repeat visitors remains strong, it is the attraction of new tourists to Maui that is lagging.

So, what do you think? While repeat visitors return to Maui, what needs to be done to attract a new generation of guests? Has Maui as a destination lost its appeal to anyone who hasn't been here before?

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/511612.html?nav=10