Kiwi Demand for Hawaii Travel Soars

Kiwi Demand for Hawaii Travel Soars

New Zealanders are travelling to Hawaii in greater numbers according to the latest travel industry figures.

The American island destination has seen a steady increase in popularity for Kiwis as the cost of travelling there has decreased.

Latest figures from House of Travel show that bookings for August are up 46% year on year, and have increased by a significant 172% on the same period in 2012.

Kiwi travellers choosing Hawaii are spending an average of 9.2 days in the island state, with 95% of trips estimated to be holidays or visits to friends and relatives, according to Brent Thomas, commercial director of House of Travel.

An increase in flights by Air New Zealand to Honolulu, along with the introduction of direct flights by Hawaiian Airlines, means the destination is more accessible and costs less, with airfares down 15% per person.

And a commitment from Air New Zealand to add 56,000 extra seats to United States destinations next year means the cost of travelling to North America could fall even further.

Thomas says that while a number of factors influence the cost of travelling to and staying in Hawaii - including exchange rates, airline yield management, and House of Travel length of stay/rental figures - another key holiday cost of car rental has decreased 30% (per person) over the past two years.

Accommodation costs have increased 20% per person over the same time period, but with the savings made on flights, Kiwi travellers don’t appear to be bothered by paying a little extra for hotels.

“Hawaii is becoming a hot spot of island travel for many of our customers who are looking for an affordable family holiday destination,” says Thomas. “With beaches, shopping and a wide range of accommodation options, it’s got plenty to offer and is much easier for Kiwis to get to than previously.”

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