Some 663,696 tourists visited the state last month, a 14.2 percent increase over the previous March, according to data released today by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Spending by visitors that arrived by air grew 19.1 percent to $959.7 million.

"March was another excellent month for Hawai'i's visitor industry," said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. "We are very pleased to see continuing recovery from the international market and outstanding growth in domestic arrivals to the state."

Wienert attributed the 15.6 percent rise in Mainland visitors to an early spring break in March. Last year's spring break was in April. U.S. The number of visitors from the western U.S. grew 20.5 percent, while the number of visitors from the eastern U.S. grew 9.6 percent.

International visitor arrivals grew 10.7 percent, with the number of Japanese tourists up 8.4 percent.

Wienert also noted a 10.4 percent increase in the number of seats on domestic and international flights so far this year helped the visitor industry.

Other highlights of the report:

• The average length of stay for visitors last month grew 1.2 percent compared to March 2004, and higher arrivals helped push visitor days up 15.6 percent.
• All islands saw more visitors except for Moloka'i and Lana'i, which saw a 4 percent and 3.8 percent drop, respectively. Big Island visitor arrivals rose the most at 23.1 percent, followed by O'ahu (13.5 percent), Maui (7.8 percent) and Kaua'i (7.2 percent).
• Overall spending per visitor per day grew 3.1 percent to $159.10. Japanese tourists spent the most per day with $226.80, but that figure dropped 5 percent compared to March last year.
• Tourists spent an average $1,446 per trip, a 4.3 percent increase. Canadian visitors led other markets by spending $1,900 per trip. Japanese visitor spending per trip dropped 7.4 percent.
• A total of 24,409 visitors, including those who arrived by air to board cruise ships and those who came with the ships, toured the Islands last month, a 34.3 percent change over March 2004.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.