Yen Drop Brings Relief to Hawaii Tourism

The yen to dollar exchange rate has dropped significantly this week after hitting a 40-year high due to US-Japan intervention in the market. This change is affecting Hawaii's tourism industry, particularly for Japanese visitors.

Despite an increase in visitor arrivals from Japan compared to earlier in the year, numbers are still half of what they were before the pandemic, according to Eric Takahata, Managing Director for Hawaii Tourism Japan. The majority of current Japanese visitors are high-end travelers who can afford the increased costs associated with traveling to Hawaii.

'It's easily 40-50% more to travel now than it was in 2019,' Takahata stated. 'So, the mid-level travelers is the market segment that we're having a struggle with.'

Japanese visitors like Mariko Sato are feeling the pinch of the exchange rate and have had to cut back on extras such as eating out. However, they feel that the time spent enjoying Hawaii's beaches and outdoor activities makes the trip worthwhile.