LIHU‘E — As visitor arrivals dip and spending sags, Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, says glimmers of hope for businesses on the island still shine, as this week Canadian airline WestJet added Lihu‘e to its list of destinations and Travel + Leisure magazine honored Kaua‘i as “Hawai‘i’s Best Island.”
“Our main market is California,” said Gov. Linda Lingle, Thursday, at the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “California is an economic basketcase; they are not going to recover any time soon.”
Lingle described the WestJet announcement as “good news” for the island and said “everything we can do, we have to,” as recovery from declining Japanese and California visitors will take time.
“I don’t think Canadians have been immune to economic challenges, but they certainly haven’t had as tough a time as some areas in the U.S.,” Kanoho said. “In the long run, the Canadian market is strong, like the Japanese market.”
Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said in a press release that he is “thrilled” WestJet gave Kaua‘i their “vote of confidence.”
He said he is also thankful to KVB, visitor industry businesses and residents for the hospitality that helped readers of Travel + Leisure select the island as the best in Hawai‘i.
“This award pays tribute to what is truly special about Kaua‘i — the beauty of our island, which is matched by the beauty of our people and the aloha we share,” Carvalho said. “Nowhere on earth can you go and experience the magic of Kaua‘i.”
The island was rated based upon natural attractions, activities and sights, restaurants and food, people and value.
“What makes the honor of being named ‘Hawai‘i’s Best Island’ is the acknowledgment that Kaua‘i’s incredible beauty and diversity of activities matches the demands of Travel + Leisure’s discerning readers seeking a memorable vacation,” Kanoho said in a press release Friday.
This marks the fourth time in seven years that Kaua‘i has earned the title, finishing on top in 2003, 2004 and 2006, according to KVB.
Next on the agenda for promoting island tourism, Kanoho said, is a “road show” in October which will include Vancouver, to help promote WestJet’s new round-trip service.
“We’re a third of the way in and almost half-way through the things we needed to get going,” she said with reference to the county’s $1 million Visitor Industry Stimulus Plan.
The plan, according to a press release, aims to “attract visitors to Kaua’i and keep the visitor industry and related businesses viable during these tough economic times.”
Projects that have already taken place include promotions with wholesalers and online travel companies such as Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz.
Officials say the Visitor Stimulus Plan will generate approximately $20.1 million in visitor spending on hotels, condos, car rentals, activities, restaurants, retail outlets, and related businesses over the next year, according to a KVB press release.
“We’re working on kama‘aina deals now as we speak and they are almost ready for the rest of the year,” Kanoho said, regarding plans to promote Inter-Island travel.
“We’ve been very fortunate between Hanalei being the No. 1 beach and now this, it gives the reassurance we are plateauing and are starting to go on the uptick and using the opportunities to bolster the economy,” Kanoho said.
Though Canadian visitor arrivals for Kaua‘i fell by 26.9 percent in May, WestJet felt that “having all islands represented would send a stronger message,” Kanoho said, and announced Wednesday that it would begin twice weekly flight service Dec. 16.
On the other hand, more Canadians are reportedly staying exclusively on Kaua‘i compared to May 2008, and their length of stay is 17.6 percent longer, according to the state tourism office.
