More than 151,000 visitors from Greater China took trips to Hawaii in 2017, with the islands’ Chinese arrivals up 9% and FIT arrivals leaping 23% year-on-year.
Hawaii’s third annual Camp Aloha 2018 China & Hong Kong sales mission has kicked off in Hong Kong, the first leg in a three-city tour, with Wuhan and Shanghai stops to follow.
More than 151,000 visitors from Greater China took trips to Hawaii in 2017, with the islands’ Chinese arrivals up 9% and FIT arrivals leaping 23% year-on-year.
Hongkongers too, have been tempted by the exotic destination with a big rise in the numbers of couples rating Hawaii as a wedding and honeymoon destination.
Alongside couples seeking romance from Hong Kong and multi-generational families from China, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has also discovered that MICE groups are a fast-growing segment.
Once in Hawaii, the city island of Oahu, home to Honolulu International Airport, is the first stop for most, with the shopping and restaurant scene attracting travellers.
Debbie Hogan, senior director of sales for Island of Hawaii Visitors’ Bureau says more travellers are visiting multiple islands these days, adding Hawaii (the Big Island) to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, swim with manta rays and stargaze. Maui and Kauai are also popular with those seeking to get back to nature.
At Westminster Travel, manager product development Wing Ho, said, “Increasingly Hawaii is a family destination for Hong Kongers as they don’t have much annual leave and want to take their children with them to see something really unique.”
She said one of the main limiting factors is the necessity for visas for Hong Kong and Chinese travellers. Guam is a strong competitor, being closer and visa-free, as are destinations in South-east Asia, which are easier to get to and cheaper, “as price is always a major concern for Hong Kong travellers”.
Another limiting factor for the Hong Kong market is the lack of direct flights. Currently Hongkongers must transit through Beijing, Seoul or Tokyo airports to reach Honolulu International Airport on Oahu or Kona International Airport on Hawaii. Airlines like Hawaiian Air, Korean Air and United are keen to attract Hong Kongers but a direct flight still seems far away.
One of the newest properties in the archipelago is The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Waikiki. The first tower has been completed (US President Trump and his entourage have already stayed), while the second will open this October.
“It’s the first Ritz-Carlton Residences in an urban setting,” says Jon Ushijima, director of sales Asia. “The first tower sold out in two weeks, site unseen. There are six units left in the second tower.”
The oldest property is also a Marriott International hotel, Moana Surfrider, a Westin property and an icon on the beach where Hawaii’s signature sport of surfing first started.
“It’s a historic property and many people visit the library on the second floor which explains how and why the first people came to Hawaii, with the first hand-carved surf board displayed,” says Lulu Zheng, Great China and South-east Asia sales manager, Marriott.
The brand has 19 properties in Hawaii including the equally iconic Royal Hawaiian, built in 1927.