HONOLULU (AP) — The number of tourists visiting Hawaii surged 9.3 percent in May compared to the same month last year as more travelers came to the islands from the U.S. mainland. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — The number of tourists
HONOLULU (AP) — The number of tourists visiting Hawaii surged 9.3 percent in May compared to the same month last year as more travelers came to the islands from the U.S. mainland.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority said Thursday more than 700,000 visitors traveled to the state in May.
Visitor spending climbed 10.4 percent to $1.2 billion.
Travelers from the western region of the U.S. jumped 11.8 percent to more than 295,000. Visitors from Japan grew 3.6 percent to more than 112,000.
Total arrivals are 4.1 percent higher for the first five months of the year.
HTA President George Szigeti says the tourism authority will continue focusing on distributing visitors around the state by encouraging direct flights to different islands.
