In the wake of two airlines suddenly shutting down, the number of visitors arriving in the Islands in April dropped — 7.6 percent to 548,792 visitors — according to preliminary statistics released today by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

But those who came spent a little more. Spending by visitors arriving by air rose to $881.5 million, a 0.4 percent increase over April 2007. Average daily spending rose to $186 per person this April compared with $175 per person in April last year.

The average length of stay was 8.85 days, compared with 8.63 days in April 2007. Total visitor days for air and cruise visitors in April 2008 declined 5.3 percent compared with April 2007.

Among the top four visitor markets, air arrivals from Canada rose an impressive 48.2 percent compared with April 2007.

Arrivals from the U.S. West decreased 15.2 percent, partially due to the shutdown of Aloha Airlines after March 31 and ATA after April 2.

And air arrivals from the U.S. East dropped 5.1 percent. Japan declined 15.3 percent from the same month last year, which tracked a recent downward trend largely attributed to fuel surcharges discouraging long trips.