Hawaii is optimistic as it projects tourism momentum will turn a good 2012 into a better 2013
Skift Take
After recent cutbacks in flights, seat capacity is increasing and there's even hope that a low-cost carrier such as Southwest will take a serious glance at the islands.
The momentum seen in Hawaii's visitor industry, which is on track to set new arrivals and spending records this year, is expected to continue for the next few years.
"We are taking the momentum of 2012 towards 2013," David Uchiyama, vice president of brand management for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, told members of Hawaii's visitor industry and interested parties Thursday at the 2012 Hawaii Tourism Authority Conference.
About 600 attendees turned out for the start of the two-day conference, which continues today. The conference was designed to favorably present HTA programs and focus on building collaboration within the state's leading industry.
HTA has projected arrivals this year will grow to 7.8 million and that spending could reach nearly $14 billion, Uchiyama said. The trend is positive looking all the way out to 2016, when price increases could begin to hit the consumer threshold and a soft backlog of group businesses raises concern about Hawaii's base of business, he s
