Visitor Arrivals Plunge 12.7 PercentOfficials Say Economic Conditions Impacting Tourism IndustryPOSTED: 1:20 pm HST March 31,
2009 HONOLULU -- The number of tourists coming to the islands continued to fall in February, according to the state.There were 527,222 visitors in February, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. So far this year, visitor arrivals are down 12.6 percent from the same period last year.With the drop in tourists came a drop in spending. Visitors traveling by air alone spent 15.9 percent or $161 million less than the same time last year, officials said."Hawaii's visitor industry continued to be impacted by unstable economic conditions worldwide," state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert said. "February's results were not unexpected and included a 'leap year effect' of one less day in the month this year compared to February 2008."Island Arrivals:
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