January visitor spending rose 13.9 percent to $1.345 billion surpassing the target set by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, according to statistics presented to the HTA board today.

Last month’s year-over-year spending gains were due in part to gains in visitor arrivals, per-person-per-day spending and airlift, said HTA Tourism Research Director Daniel Nahoopii.

January arrivals rose 7.7 percent from the same month in 2011 to 643,616 visitors, Nahoopii said. On average, these visitors spent $192.2 a day, an increase of 4.8 percent over January 2011.

The number of airseats into Hawaii in January also rose to 816,647 seats, a 2.7 percent year-over-year increase.