HONOLULU (AP) - The Hawaii Tourism Authority is spending another $2 million to bring more visitors to the islands and stem the tourism industry's losses.
State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert says the additional spending approved Thursday will boost a planned tourism marketing effort to $6.5 million.
The number of visitors to Hawaii plummeted 17.4 percent in August compared to the same month last year as airfares have spiked and the economy slowed.
Gov. Linda Lingle and the state's hotel operators asked the tourism agency in August to release an additional $10 million in marketing funds.
But the tourism authority's board didn't act on their request until Thursday.
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Information from: Honolulu Star-Bulletin, http://www.starbulletin.com/