Tourism in Hawaii was a bit busier last month than it was a year ago, according to preliminary statistics released today by a state agency in charge of promoting the islands as a visitor destination.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority reported that 4.8% more tourists visited the state in October compared with the same month last year.

This gain equated to 36,775 more visitors, or 800,448 last month compared with 763,673 a year earlier.

More visitors meant that more money flowed to businesses around the state catering to tourism and the general public. But the increase was small.

HTA estimated that tourism spending rose 0.9%, or $12 million, to $1.325 billion in October from $1.313 billion a year earlier.

The spending gain was slight because each tourist, on average, spent less.

HTA said the average visitor spent $197 a day last month, nearly $5 less than $201.8 a day in October 2018.