The yen strengthened against the dollar this week to below 90 to the U.S. dollar. But don't expect a jump in spending by Japanese tourists traveling here to celebrate the New Year.

That's because Japan Airlines is projecting it will have 11.4 percent fewer seats available on flights to Hawai'i between Dec. 26 and Jan. 4 as it projects an overall decline in passengers and flights for the New Year's period.

Japan Airlines said international passenger reservations on its JAL Group totaled 54,385 for departures from Japan to Hawai'i, or about 8.9 percent less than the corresponding 2007 period.

Japan Airlines said the decline in traffic was attributable to the current economic climate.