Tourism spending in Hawaii recovered to prepandemic levels this year, but state officials say they are counting on a return of Japanese tourists to stave off a downturn next year.Dec. 31, 2022 9:00 am ET
The total number of visitors to Hawaii is back near prepandemic highs, largely because of a resurgence in American visitors. Tourism plummeted during the pandemic, as Hawaii instituted some of the strictest measures in the nation, mandating a negative Covid-19 test or 10-day quarantine, regardless of vaccination status, through June 2021. The state lifted travel and indoor-mask mandates in March 2022.
“Our biggest challenge right now is actually the general public’s sentiment in Japan toward international travel,” said Eric Takahata, managing director of Hawaii Tourism Japan, the state contractor focused on attracting Japanese travelers. Mr. Takahata said he is hoping visits by Japanese residents will recover to about half of prepandemic levels by the end of 2023.have aided the yen’s rebound in recent weeks, tourism researchers say the return of the Japanese market has remained weak.
“We thought it was important to stay connected and to not lose that love of Hawaii for people living in Japan,” he said.