The number of visitors to Hawai'i continued to ease in November from the record pace in 2005 and 2006, although the amount they spent rose slightly.

Hawai'i welcomed 563,929 visitors last month, which was down 1.6 percent compared with November of last year. Visitor spending increased to $933.8 million for the month, a 0.1 percent rise from November 2006, according to figures released yesterday by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Through the first 11 months of the year, Hawai'i hosted 6.72 million visitors, down 1.1 percent from last year. On O'ahu, which draws the majority of tourists, visitor arrivals fell 2.9 percent in November, but remain down just 0.4 percent so far this year.

While still strong, the numbers provide further proof that Hawai'i's biggest industry has peaked after several years of rapid growth.

"Visitor spending remains strong and the overall condition of Hawai'i's visitor industry remains stable," said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert.

Through November, Mainland arrivals grew 0.3 percent to an 11-month record of 5,022,578 visitors statewide. But that was more than offset by a 5.1 percent decline in international arrivals. Japanese visitor arrivals, which have fallen all year, were down 8.9 percent year to date.

The University of Hawai'i Economic Research Organization has projected overall visitor arrivals for 2007 to decline by 1.1 percent. UHERO economists expect arrivals to be little changed in 2008, followed by an increase of 1.1 percent in 2009.

A continuation of near-record visitor arrivals is welcomed by at least one business that relies on the tourism trade.

"It's pretty much the same old same old," said Bob Hampton, president of Waikiki Beach Activities Ltd., which has run a concession that serves guests of the Hilton Hawaiian Village for nearly two decades. "I'm looking forward to (2008)."

Statewide visitor spending rose 0.1 percent to nearly $933.8 million in November. Visitor spending increased 0.6 percent to $11 billion in the first 11 months of 2007, compared with the same period last year. Spending increases came from the U.S. West, U.S. East and Canadian visitor markets, while total visitor spending by Japan visitors fell 1.9 percent.

In an encouraging sign, Hawai'i hosted 454,298 honeymooners through November, which was up 1.7 percent from year-to-date 2006. First-time visitors to Hawai'i in November remained level at 36.1 percent.

"We are particularly pleased with the increase in the total number of visitors who came to honeymoon and get married in November and the continued strong growth in arrivals from the Pacific Northwest," Wienert said.

Total visitor days, which is considered a good gauge of the tourism industry's economic contribution, fell 1.7 percent in November to about 5 million and remained down 1.9 percent on the year.

Total cruise visitors through November rose 23 percent to 459,189 compared with the year-ago period. These visitors were aboard 72 cruise ships.

A separate report released by the state yesterday showed a generally rising level of visitor satisfaction among travelers to Hawai'i.

The percentage of visitors from the U.S. West who rated their trip to Hawai'i as "excellent" rose to 71.8 percent in the second quarter from 67.8 percent in the same period a year earlier. For Canadians, the percentage rose to 70.9 percent from 67.7 percent, while for Europeans it rose to 70.9 percent from 69.5 percent.

The percentage of visitors from Japan who rated their trip as excellent was little changed at 52.5 percent compared with 52.8 percent a year earlier. However, the percentage was up from the first quarter when only 47.9 percent of Japanese visitors rated their trip as excellent.

The percentage of visitors from the U.S. East who rated their trip as excellent fell to 73.4 percent in the second quarter from 74.8 percent in the same quarter a year earlier. However, it was up from 71.9 percent in the first quarter.

The report noted that satisfying visitors' needs and expectations encourages return trips to Hawai'i. "Satisfied customers also develop a fondness for the destination, which results in a higher likelihood to recommend Hawai'i to others."

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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