The HTA targets are similar to state projections of slightly more than $11.13 billion in visitor spending this year.

The goals help the tourism authority make decisions about how to spend its $56 million marketing budget, which includes the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau's programs.

Tourism authority marketing director Frank Haas warned that the $11.1 billion includes goals that are a stretch. The figure includes a 12.5 percent increase in Japanese visitor spending, the highest increase of any of the major groups of visitors.

In discussions with tourism industry leaders, "there was some angst and concern about the level" of the targets, Haas said.

And there are a number of caveats that come with the goals, in addition to the assumption of no war with Iraq. The goals assume that the tourism industry will not discount prices much for hotel rooms, airfare and activities, that exchange rates will remain stable, and that more Japanese will visit Hawai'i. Any changes in those factors could mean changes in the goals, and the tourism authority will review the targets periodically this year.

Haas also said the state Department of Business and Economic Development and Tourism may revise its figures on average spending per visitor per day by Japanese visitors because of changes in methodology, which could prompt a change in the tourism authority's targets.

To reach $11.1 billion in visitor spending, the tourism authority is aiming to help bring in 6.7 million visitors, a 4.8 percent increase over last year. That's lower than the state forecast of 6.8 million visitors.

In the tourism authority's goals, visitors will spend an average of $179 per person per day, which is $5 higher than last year.