Asia Trip Helps to Boost Tourism in Hawai`i

The Lt. Governor said he received firm commitments to maintain service to Hawai‘i at a time when the Administration is intensifying tourism outreach as part of a five-point action plan to bolster the economy.

Korean Air announced that it will increase service to Hawai‘i early next year, as the demand for flights to the state is expected to rise significantly following a visa waiver program, which took effect Nov. 17. The federal program allows Koreans to travel to the U.S. without a visa for up to 90 days.
 
“As a result of South Korea becoming a new visa waiver country, we anticipate that the number of Korean visitors to Hawai‘i will double in the first one-to-two years,” Lt. Governor Aiona said.

Asiana Airlines President Joo-An Kang told the Lt. Governor that his airline will consider adding a direct flight to Hawai'i in the near future, which would be the airline’s first direct flight to Hawai`i since 1998.

Lt. Governor Aiona also met in Tokyo with executives from four airlines: Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, United and Northwest Airlines. All committed to the Lt. Governor to continue their existing service to Hawai‘i, emphasizing the importance of the Hawai‘i tourism market to their operation in Asia, Lt. Governor Aiona said.

In addition, travel agents pledged to continue marketing Hawai‘i as a destination for weddings, honeymoons and family vacations.

“We had very positive discussions in Korea and Japan,” said Lt. Governor Aiona, who was accompanied by State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert. “Hawai‘i is receiving more attention than any other U.S. state among the Korean travel trade, and these face-to-face meeting are helping to build upon those key relationships. Similarly, everyone we met with in Japan continues to believe that Hawai‘i is a preferred destination for Japanese travelers.”