The Hawaii Tourism Authority approved new 2014 visitor arrivals and spending goals at a board meeting today. 

HTA, which manages the state government’s tourism budget and sets tourism policy, has set a goal of bringing 8.75 million visitors to Hawaii in 2014. The target represents a 3.2 percent increase over the 2013 arrivals goal. The board also set a goal of increasing visitor spending in 2014 to $16.1 billion, a 5.1 percent increase over the 2013 spending goal. The new goals for next year take into account arrivals declines from what was previously anticipated for the Japan market.