The number of visitors to Hawai'i last month dipped slightly, but those who did come spent a little more, according to the latest state statistics.

Arrivals fell 1.3 percent in October to 562,636 visitors from the same month a year earlier, while spending rose $6.9 million or 0.7 percent to $966.8 million, the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism reported yesterday

Some tourism officials say the decline in visitors from some areas are opening up rooms for others to come. Russell Chun, general manager of the Miramar at Waikiki, said business at his hotel is up.

"Contrary to the trend, our business has been very good," he said, especially in the number of travelers from Europe, Japan, Australia and Canada. Chun said he's encouraged by the continuing increase in the numbers of visitors from China even without eased travel restrictions.

"You have to be alert for other opportunities," Chun said. "People are still coming to Hawai'i. We've been so dependent on U.S. West that we haven't really focused on other markets."

With the value of the euro rising against the dollar, Chun said travelers from Europe are finding themselves able to afford a Hawai'i vacation for the first time. For them, "it's like a dream come true," he said.

For the month of October 2007, there was a 1.1 percent decline in total visitor days compared with October 2006. The average length of stay was virtually unchanged at 8.9 days. Arrivals from Canada rose 10 percent, while U.S. West arrivals were steady at up 0.1 percent. Arrivals from the U.S. East and Japan were down 2.3 percent and 8.3 percent respectively.

State officials said they tracked expenditures for the first 10 months of 2007 and found they totaled $10.1 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent or $64.9 million compared to the same period last year.

And the average daily visitor spending for October grew to $194 per person in 2007 from $190 per person a year earlier. For the first 10 months of 2007, daily spending increased 2.6 percent to $181 per person.

"Overall, Hawai'i's visitor industry remains sound with continued growth in visitor expenditures," said state tourism liaison Marsha Wienert. "We are especially pleased with the increase in visitors who came to the Islands for conventions and corporate meetings and the strong growth in arrivals from the Pacific Northwest."

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