Last month saw 517,141 arrivals to the state, up from 463,357 in January 2002.

"We appear to be successful in communicating the message that Hawai'i is an enjoyable and safe vacation destination," said Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, which released the January visitor numbers today.

While last month was an improvement over a year ago, the arrivals are still well below pre-Sept. 11 numbers. Last month's total arrivals were 6.8 percent below the 554,710 visitors Hawai'i attracted in January 2001.

The lingering effects of Sept. 11, the prospect of a war with Iraq and a slowing economy have prevented arrivals from returning to the record levels set in 2000.

The slow improvement in tourist arrivals since Sept. 11, while encouraging to the state's No. 1 industry, has taken a back seat to fears that tourism will suffer a steep drop if a war begins in Iraq.

Chuck Gee, dean emeritus of the University of Hawai'i School of Travel Industry Management, predicts that a war with Iraq could lead to a drop of 25 percent to 50 percent in visitors.

"We are approaching many of our major markets to reassure them that we are doing everything possible to keep Hawai'i attractive during these times of international uncertainty," Liu said in a statement.

The National Football League's Pro Bowl game, which was played on Feb. 2, drew about 18,000 visitors to the Islands, most of whom arrived in the last week of January. That improved the January count on a year-on-year basis. Last year the Pro Bowl was delayed until the second week of February.

"The Pro Bowl not only drew a large number of visitors to the event itself," said Liu, "but showcased the state's beauty and safe environment" to 6.3 million people watching on TV.

January saw a 17 percent increase in international arrivals from a year ago. Japanese arrivals climbed 15.4 percent with a strong recovery in Japanese coming for conventions or on incentive trips. Japanese group travel was severly curtailed after Sept. 11 when tour companies feared another terrorist attack might leave their clients stranded in Hawai'i.

The average stay for Japanese visitors was shorter by 6 percent in January compare to a year ago. That meant the total Japanese visitor days rose only 8.6 percent.