HONOLULU -- For the first time in island history, this year's tourism arrivals are expected to exceed 7 million visitors.

Tourism officials at the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau's annual tourism luncheon Wednesday celebrated the record-breaking year.

With hotels near capacity, officials said they now need to focus on avoiding overcrowding and stressing island resources.

"You don't so much want to grow numbers. You want to provide the visitors with a fantastic product and a good experience so they come back again and again and be happy with what Hawaii is as a visitor destination," Hawaii Tourism Authority President Rex Johnson said.

Not only are tourists coming in record numbers, they are also spending more than in years past, according to officials.

Good economies in Japan and the U.S. mainland, as well as the belief that Hawaii is a safe place, are helping increase visitor numbers.