The downturn in the economy has led to the cancellation of next year's Hawai'i Romance Festival.

Festival producer Allen Sviridoff says it was a difficult decision to make and one that was based solely on the economy. He says the festival hosted by the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii will be back in 2010.

This year's 10-day festival in May featured concerts and dinners at various venues in Honolulu.

The event launched in 2007 as the Return to Romance festival was renamed last year.