GOVERNOR LINGLE AND LT. GOVERNOR AIONA TO PROMOTE TOURISM, BUSINESS IN KEY ASIAN MARKETS

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. will travel separately to Asia next week to promote travel to Hawai‘i as well as business investments and partnerships with the state.

Between them, the state’s top two leaders will visit Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Japan and Republic of Korea with the goal of increasing Asian visitors to Hawai‘i, especially from emerging markets such as China, which earlier this year eased restrictions on leisure travel to the United States, as well as Korea where travelers will be eligible to visit the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program starting Nov. 17.

In addition, the Governor and Lt. Governor will meet with Asian airline officials to seek new air service and increases in the number of flights and/or seats from key Asian cities to Hawai‘i’s international airports in Honolulu, Kona and Hilo.  They will also strengthen opportunities to expand business investments and partnerships, with a specific focus on renewable energy.

“The Asia tourism and business trips, which have been in the planning for several months, are part of my Administration’s five-point plan to create jobs and stimulate the economy,” said Governor Lingle.  “It is critical that we do all we can to reach out to our traditional visitor base in Japan as well as emerging markets such as China and Korea to encourage people to visit Hawai‘i, and to ensure our state is well positioned with increased flights and air seat capacity.”

In addition to increased tourism and marketing outreach, the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s five-point plan includes increasing outside investment, especially in energy and technology; investing in public infrastructure and capital improvement projects; reducing fees and taxes; and maximizing federal funds and partnerships.

“We are taking a proactive approach to build upon our economic partnerships abroad and pave the way to greater investment and tourism in Hawai‘i,” Lt. Governor Aiona said. “Hawai‘i is an international gateway for commerce and one of the world’s leading incubators of renewable energy. We are uniquely situated to capitalize on new developments in international tourism such as Korea’s participation in the Visa Waiver Program.  It is therefore important that we work with our travel partners in Asia to increase air seat capacity to our airports.”

Earlier this year, in meetings with Hawai‘i hotel executives, industry leaders encouraged the Governor and Lt. Governor to increase the state’s tourism outreach and marketing, including visiting key visitor markets to promote travel to the islands.

Details of the trips are as follows:

Governor Lingle (Nov. 11 – 22)

Bali, Indonesia – As a member of the East-West Center board of directors, Governor Lingle will attend the board’s annual meeting in Bali.  In addition, Governor Lingle will be among the speakers at an international conference entitled “Building an Asia-Pacific Community: Unity in Diversity.” Other featured speakers include East-West Center President Charles Morrison, Indonesia’s ministers of trade, people’s welfare and women’s empowerment; the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, and international business leaders.

Taipei, Taiwan – As a guest of the government of the Republic of China, Governor Lingle will meet with government officials to discuss enhancing the cooperative opportunities and relationships between Hawai‘i and Taiwan especially in renewable energy development and technology.  She will also meet with China Airlines to discuss the need for increased airline seats to the islands, and with travel industry leaders.

Shanghai, China – This segment of the trip will build on the progress made since the Governor’s 2005 business mission to China, which set the groundwork for a cooperative agreement between the State of Hawai‘i and the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to increase two-way travel between Hawai‘i and China.  In Shanghai, the Governor will participate in the CNTA’s China International Travel Mart, Asia’s largest international tourism fair, and meet with tourism leaders, tour wholesalers, travel agents, airlines, travel writers and other travel businesses from Asia and around the globe.  The State of Hawai‘i along with Hawai‘i travel companies will have a booth at the Travel Mart.  Governor Lingle will also meet with executives from several airlines to discuss establishing flights between China and Hawai‘i.

For the Taiwan and China segments of the trip, the Governor will be accompanied by Ted Liu, director, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT); Lloyd Unebasami, interim president, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA); David Uchiyama, vice president of marketing, HTA; and executives from Hawai‘i Tourism Taiwan and China. The state’s offices in these countries will also be participating.


Lt. Governor Aiona (Nov. 11 – 18)

Seoul and Jeju, South Korea – Lt. Governor Aiona will meet with Korean Airlines executives to discuss increased seat capacity to the islands and Asiana Airlines to pursue the potential of resuming air service to Hawai‘i since the Republic of Korea will join the U.S. visa waiver program on November 17. He will also meet with travel and business industry leaders to encourage investment and increased tourism initiatives.

Lt. Governor Aiona will also participate in the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Korea-United States Economic Council’s (KUSEC) 6th Annual Korea-Pacific U.S. States Joint Conference which will be held on Jeju Island.  He will participate as a speaker and invite the attendees to Hawai‘i for next year’s conference in Honolulu.

Tokyo, Japan – Japan continues to be the most important foreign market for Hawai‘i tourism, and Lt. Governor Aiona will meet with airline executives and travel industry leaders to encourage their continued support of Hawai‘i and seek ways to increase visitor arrivals and air service.

Lt. Governor Aiona will be accompanied by State Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert, who has been taking the lead for the state on the visa waiver for Korean visitors and has worked closely with Japan tourism leaders for more than 20 years.  Also accompanying the Lt. Governor will be the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority interim president and vice president of marketing, as well as executives from Hawai‘i Tourism Korea and Japan.

Travel expenses are being paid for through a combination of funding sources.  The Governor’s expenses in Indonesia will be covered by the East-West Center as part of her official duties as a member of the board.  Expenses in Taiwan are being paid for by the Taiwanese government as part of the effort to strengthen partnerships in renewable energy development. 

Funds from the Department of Transportation – Airports Division will cover the China portion of the Governor’s trip as well as a portion of the Lt. Governor’s trip to Korea and his entire trip to Japan. These funds are specifically earmarked for the sole purpose of increasing passengers to the state and increasing airline flights and air seat capacity. 

A portion of the Lt. Governor’s Korea trip will be paid for by DBEDT as part of the state’s official role as the host of the 2009 Korea-U.S. Economic Council Conference in Hawai‘i next November.

Travel costs for Liu and Wienert will be paid for by DBEDT funds and Department of Transportation – Airports Division funds.

For more information, contact:

Marsha Wienert   
Tourism Liaison
Phone: (808) 586-2362

Ted Liu
Director, DBEDT
Phone: (808) 586-2355

Lenny Klompus
Senior-Advisor – Communications
Office of the Governor
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Office of the Governor
Phone: (808) 586-0043

Travis Taylor
Communications Director
Office of the Lt. Governor
Phone: (808) 586-0283