Agency: Hawaii tourism was down in 2009, but December’s figures were positive

Agency: Hawaii tourism was down in 2009

HONOLULU — Last year was disappointing for Hawaii’s tourism industry, but it 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 decrease from 2008.

The agency 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.

Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO Mike McCartney says 2009 presented the visitor industry with many challenges but ended with positive indicators.

During the last month of the year, 577,657 people visited Hawaii — a 2.4 percent increase over December 2008. And visitor expenditures last month amounted to $955.2 million, a $5 million increase over the previous December.

On the Net:

Hawaii Tourism Authority, www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/