Hawaii tourism was down 4.5% in 2009
Associated Press
HONOLULU � Last year was disappointing for Hawaii�s tourism industry, but 2009 ended on a positive note.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Tuesday that the state welcomed 6.5 million visitors in 2009, a 4.5 percent decline from 2008.
It says visitors arriving by air spent $9.9 billion last year, a decrease of $1.3 billion, or 11.7 percent, from the year before.
The year 2009 closed with 577,657 people coming to Hawaii last month, a 2.4 percent increase over December 2008.
Visitor expenditures last month amounted to $955.2 million, a $5 million, or 0.5 percent, increase over the previous December.
Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney says 2009 presented Hawaii�s visitor industry with many challenges, but ended with positive indicators leading into the new year.
