Tourism from the Mainland also increased, according to the latest figures released by the state today, contributing to the continuing recovery of Hawai'i's tourism industry.

About 495,101 visitors arrived in Hawai'i in November, amounting to a 0.3 percent boost over last year. Roughly 122,353 of the total visitors were Japanese, up 1.9 percent and the first increase over year-ago figures since March.

But because the Japanese spent less time in the Islands, total Japanese visitor days were down 1.6 percent.

Last month also set a record for domestic visitor days, considered a good measure of the economic contribution of the visitors. Domestic visitor days increased 1.7 percent in November compared to the same month last year. Tourists from the Western region of the Mainland led the growth.

"November 2003 was another strong month for the domestic visitor market," said Gov. Linda Lingle's tourism liaison Marsha Wienert in a written statement.

For the year through November, total visitor arrivals were down 1 percent, while total visitor days were up 2.9 percent.

Stan Brown, vice president in the Pacific Islands for Marriott hotels, said the last two months of the year have "bounced back quite well," though the increases came over a slow period last year.

He said Japanese bookings for 2004 also are encouraging.

"If we start to see that rebound continue over the next couple of months then it looks like a trend and then it starts to be much more positive as we head into the future," Brown said.

Although total visitor arrivals to the state were up in November, arrivals to every major island were down as interisland travel grew more costly. Visitors arrivals to O'ahu decreased 3 percent and visitor arrivals to Maui fell 4.6 percent.

Tourism industry leaders want to alleviate the barriers to interisland travel because multiple-island vacations encourage tourists to stay longer in the Islands and spend more. Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com