Increased Group Tour Sales Help Boost 1st Qtr Expenditures On Maui

WAILUKU, Hawaii, June 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Maui's "group tour" industry showed impressive growth in the first quarter of 2014. Thanks to visitors coming en masse from all over the globe, especially Australia, Taiwan, Korea and China, to the Valley Isle expenditures climbed past last year's first quarter. Hawaii Tourism Authority has most recently focused their attention on expanding into the international market. Sluggish economic growth worldwide has translated into overall tourism for Hawaii being down, but Maui seems relatively unaffected with it's blossoming group touring industry continuing to grow.

Perhaps it's the world class beaches, sunsets, surf, sea, shops and scenery that continuously compels vacationers to come back year after year? There are few places that can compete with Maui above or below sea level and the numbers don't lie. Visitor days are up over this time last year, but overall visitors to Hawai'i are down for the year-to-date. Luckily, Maui has benefitted from increased visitors to Molokai, corporate travelers, and of course, wedding parties.

There are several excellent tours for groups and/or individuals which provide the vacationer the ability to see the Maui of their dreams. Giving someone the ability to make a choice in how they will be experiencing the exotic, tropical beauty of the Valley Isle and its surrounding areas is a very liberating thing. Biking, ziplining, paragliding, shopping, helicoptering, driving the Road to Hana or boating to Molokini a sunken volcanic crater, it's the ultimate dream that just simply needs to be designed, and then lived.

Taking the trip to Molokini is truly a special experience because it's out a few miles so a boat ride is necessary but part of the fun! And the journey there on any given day can be absolutely magical. Dolphins riding in the wake of the boat, whales breaching the water just feet away and docile turtles spending time eating and playing in the sea are common sights on the way to this undersea utopia. Travelers can snorkel, snuba or scuba at Molokini crater.

Numerous beaches on Maui have repeatedly been cited by Dr. Beach as being among the best in the world. Some are best for watching the pros while others are best for sunbathing, scuba diving, snorkeling, sand castle competitions, swimming or putting in a board to enjoy catch a wave. Maui has even a few beaches that are just perfect for the little ones to explore, like Baby beach in Paia. Most are traditional white sand, but others are black (Waianapanapa) and even red (Kaihalulu).

Should you like to go on a Hawai'ian shopping adventure, the retail therapy scene ranges from high end, world-class retailers at The Shops at Wailea and some of the trendier spots in Lahaina to mid-priced shopping at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Wailuku and then there is the always funky and fabulous bargain hunting in Kahului, Lahaina and Paia.

Cuisine varies on Maui from top-notch gourmet at Mama's Fish House, Chef Bev's Hali'imaile General Store and Spagos to fantastically affordable and fresh like Flatbread Pizza in Paia, Sensei Sushi and Fred's Mexican Cafe in Kihei and... oh yes, let's not forget La Provence in Kula, (yes, that's right - affordable French cuisine on Maui!).

Maui has so much to offer families, couples and corporate clientele; it's not surprising they are positioning themselves to take more of Oahu's tourism market share year after year.

Contact:  Scott Turner
[email protected]
808.242.0955

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3cUtDkgBkA

SOURCE Pride of Maui