Hawaii is facing challenges in attracting visitors post-pandemic, particularly in Maui, where visitor arrivals are down 23.4% since 2019. Overall, visitor numbers statewide have seen a slight increase from 2023, but remain below 2019 levels. Concurrently, the cost of visiting Hawaii has risen, with hotel rates increasing by 29% since 2019, and many businesses are noting a change in traveler spending patterns. This situation has led to conversations about affordability among returning customers, while businesses emphasize the need for continued promotion of Maui as a destination.
"I have a lot of return customers, and what I hear from them is, 'We used to come every year, but we can't afford to. Now we come every other year, or we come every three years.' They just can't afford to," said Joan Channon, owner of the Bamboo Restaurant and Gallery.
"It started with COVID, of course, but in '21 and '22, we had relatively good years," she said. The decrease in travel has affected businesses tremendously.
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