Published on : Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Until June, Chinese visitor arrivals have dropped by about 36 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to figures provided by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority.
“Hawaii would like to capture more of this lucrative market, but two federal issues diminish our growth opportunities: visa requirements and the Trump administration’s antagonistic trade policies. As long as the U.S. puts restrictions on travel and takes on a more combative political posture, the Chinese will choose to vacation elsewhere,” Hawaii state Sen. Glenn Wakai told reporters.
“The Chinese have an appetite to travel, and they do so with fat wallets. Hawaii would like to lay out the welcome beach mat, but we cannot do so if the federal government doesn’t unlock the door,” he added.
“One out of every four jobs in Hawaii is directly related to tourism, so any negative impact on demand from Asia could cripple Hawaii’s economy,” he said.
“We can’t let politics get in the way, because at the end of the day, tourism is a major economic revenue generator throughout the world,” Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association, said when asked about the trade war between Washington and Beijing.
Hannemann said that in the past few years there has been a decline in Chinese visitor numbers to Hawaii but that the Trump administration’s current policy “only exacerbates the situation.”
In 2018, nearly 10 million travellers from around the world visited the Aloha State’s sun-soaked islands, generating $18 billion and employing more than 200,000 people. About 20 per cent of those visitors travelled from Asia, with Japan, Korea and China providing the lion’s share.
And while Chinese tourists represent less than two per cent of Hawaii’s total visitor count, they stay longer and spend more money compared with other Asian travellers. On an average, a Chinese tourist stays a little more than eight days and spends approximately $350 a day when vacationing in Hawaii.
“The Chinese certainly have a reputation of being high-end travellers. They like to eat at fine restaurants, they visit upscale shops, and they’re adventurous too, since they tend to book excursions and like to move around the island,” Hannemann said.
“I’m hoping that cooler heads will prevail over this,” he added.
Tags: Hawaiian tourism