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HONOLULU — Hotel owners are expecting a bad year overall despite an April uptick in tourists and visitor spending.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports Japanese tourists were a major factor in Hawaii’s second month of growth so far this year. About 2.3 percent more people visited the state in April compared to the same month last year.
Barry Wallace is the executive vice president of hospitality services for Outrigger Enterprises Group. He says the year may end with slightly more visitors having come to the state, but transient rental options have softened hotel demand.
Statistics released on Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority also show tourists spent 5.4 percent more in April compared to the same month last year.