Visitors Are Returning But They Like The Lower Rates

Aloha Kakou:

Hawaii Tourism Authority yesterday released visitor numbers for October and the mood is mixed.

Maui arrivals were up 20% compared to October, 2009, and arrivals for the state were up 13.6%. Revenue for the month was also up to $961.5 million, up almost 25% from last October. For the first ten months of the year, revenue for the state is up almost 15%.

Lower hotel rates seem to be driving the boom, with guests looking for value.

"I love numbers like this; however, it's mainly a volume recovery," said David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group. "Even with the increases, spending is still well below peak levels."

"We've got more people and that's good, but we've also got more expenses," Carey said. "Our margins are still being squeezed."

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