Why Hawaiʻi Attracts More Tourists Than Most Countries

Tourists spent nearly 16 billion dollars in Hawaiʻi during 2016.

That’s more revenue from tourism than Cambodia, Brazil, and Costa Rica brought in combined during that same year.

So what’s drawing visitors to Hawaiʻi?

To help us answer this question, we surveyed 890 individuals out of the more than 3 million people who take surveys on SurveyMonkey every day.

Here’s what they had to say about visiting the “Aloha State:”

Known for its active volcanoes, wildlife refuges, and tall active peaks, it’s little wonder that 88% of our respondents cite natural beauty as a reason for visiting Hawaiʻi.

Relaxing by the beach is the second most popular reason for visiting. This is especially true among women and young adults between 18 and 29 years old. 85% in each group cite it as a reason they’d visit. It looks like the prospect of tanning by the water trumps being active.

Participating in traditional Hawaiʻian culture and customs is another key part of tourists’ plans.

67% want to learn about the culture by visiting sacred lands and the same share want to explore “hidden gems” with a local expert.

The appetite for trying local cuisine is also strong. 65% of respondents want to pair locally brewed beer with poke and attend cooking classes. Is your mouth watering yet?

Engaging in active adventures is still popular, particularly among young adults.

Whether it’s meditating to pretty sights, embracing Hawaiʻian culture, or taking on more dynamic activities, the demand for a balanced, itinerary-packed trip to Hawaiʻi is strong.

That’s all for now, or as the Hawaiʻians would say—”i ka a pau no ka manawa.”