HONOLULU (AP) — Tourism officials say a growing timeshare industry will help the state break its visitor record this year. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — Tourism officials say a growing timeshare industry will help the state break its visitor record this
HONOLULU (AP) — Tourism officials say a growing timeshare industry will help the state break its visitor record this year.
Hawaii Tourism Authority data show timeshares were up 4.9 percent for the first three months of the year.
Carl Bonham is the executive director at the University of Hawaii economic research organization who predicted the record-breaking year Monday at a Chamber of Commerce Hawaii event exploring a new wave of timeshare customers.
“Total visitor arrivals hit a record in 2014, and we’ll hit one in 2015,” he said.
Bonham said Oahu hotel room rates have risen by double digits, possibly influencing the shift in tourist behavior to timeshares.
Tourism authority director Daniel Nahoopii said the increase in timeshares also could be caused by repeat travelers exploring places to stay.
“What we are seeing is that hotel usage hasn’t really dropped,” Nahoopii said. “It’s just that more people are coming, and they are staying in other accommodations like vacation rentals, condominiums and timeshares.”
The America Resort Development Association represents the timeshare industry. President and CEO Howard Nusbaum said timeshares generate 4,000 jobs, $100 million in wages and $67 million in tax revenue annually in Hawaii.
“Hawaii is the most sought-after timeshare destination, with nearly $1 billion in sales,” he said. “At 85.2 percent, you’ve also got the highest timeshare occupancy in the U.S.”
Legislators are considering adopting a two-year, 2 percent increase in the transient occupancy tax. If it passes, ARDA executive director Blake Oshiro said it isn’t likely to impact the timeshare industry’s growth.
“It’s small, so most owners probably won’t even notice the increase,” he said.
