At the same time, the tourism industry is going full speed ahead, diversified agriculture looks promising, and the mega-marts have come to town. Particularly noteworthy is the increase in eastbound visitors to the island, up a staggering 33 percent. The year will also be remembered as the advent of direct flights from Japan. The new service has significantly improved hotel occupancy and the number of jobs available in the visitor industry. There are many smaller signs of economic optimism too.
Retailers report an increase in sales activity.
Although government and private industry have pushed tourism and high technology as the best economic future for the Big Island, there seems to be a growing consensus that agriculture holds much more promise than many had thought. While there are signals to indicate the economy has turned the corner, a segment that remains flat is the construction industry. Land sales have been somewhat soft. Of the various areas of future promise that have been discussed for the Big Island, perhaps none has moved to the forefront more strongly than becoming an international center for health and wellness. Several trends have facilitated this movement.