Fewer Visitors Opt for Hawaii Weddings and They Spend Less
State statistics indicate 3-year slump; industry people say those who come spend less
An increasing number of Mainland and foreign couples are saying “I don’t” when it comes to a Hawai’i wedding, according to state visitor statistics.
The number of people traveling to Hawai’i to get married last year plunged 16 percent from the previous year, to approximately 60,100 couples. The decline in matrimony-minded tourists outpaced the 11 percent drop in overall visitor arrivals for 2008 that was attributed to rising travel costs and uncertainty about the economy.
Tim Clark of Hawaiian Island Weddings, which provides wedding planning services on four islands, said he handled 111 weddings last year, down from 160 in 2007. He said the local wedding industry took a serious hit in early 2008 from skyrocketing fuel prices that led to higher airfares and contributed to the demise of Aloha and ATA airlines.
“That was the big thing that happened. We had people already scheduled to do weddings, and some canceled and many downsized. Instead of 20 guests they ended up bringing three guests,” he said.
As the recession deepens, it appears more couples are rethinking their wedding plans. Visitor statistics from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism indicate January saw a 20 percent drop in visitors who came to Hawai’i for nuptials over the same month in 2008.
Clark said January also is a key booking period for wedding planners, since many couples get engaged over the winter holidays. He said his company’s Web site logged only 400 visits a day during the month, down from the usual 600 to 700 daily hits.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser