Maui visitor numbers are the best in the state, according to February statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui visitor growth is up for the second consecutive month while visitor numbers are shrinking on every other island.

“Maui County welcomed 174,027 visitors in February, a gain of more than 7 percent compared with the same month last year. Every other county showed an erosion in the already weak traffic count, although small ones.

Maui island did even better with visitors who chose to stop at just one island, with those visits up 12.4 percent. Maui island’s increase in visitors in February comes on the heels of a 2.4 percent increase in January. February marks the second consecutive month of positive growth in visitor numbers since December 2005.” – Harry Eagar, Maui News article printed 03/31/2010

This information is certainly great news for Maui’s Tourism industry but there are some additional statistics, unreported by the Maui News, that represent fantastic news for vacation rental condo owners: visitors statewide are choosing condo accommodations by a growing percentage! February 2010 visitors planning to stay in Hotels grew only 2.1% while visitors planning to stay in condos dramatically increased by 5%, compared to February 2009.

Occupancy is especially high for vacation condos in Wailea, the master-planned community that was recently selected as America’s best place for a second home by Forbes Barron’s Magazine.

A shining example of visitor statistics comes from Ho’olei, Wailea’s newest community with 120 Villas located across from the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa. Ho’olei at Grand Wailea, which manages the Ho’olei vacation rental pool, reports that March 2010 occupancy is up 238% from last year! March statistics complete the first quarter of 2010 with occupancy up 242% compared to the first quarter of 2009! This trend shows that a new luxury product in a resurging market may have greater profit potential.