Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism from Japan has been moving at a slow pace.
During a recent visit to Tokyo, Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green proposed the idea of creating a traveler pre-clearance program to make it easier for tourists from Japan to visit the U.S. state. The proposal was made by the governor and other state officials, who are looking for ways to boost tourism from Japan. The program would streamline the process for Japanese tourists to enter Hawaii, making it more convenient for them to visit and explore the state.
Hawaii officials are looking to establish a pre-clearance program that would enable Japanese tourists to have a smoother travel experience when visiting the state. This program would allow travelers from Japan to complete immigration, customs, and agricultural inspections before departing from the Honolulu airport. By doing so, they would save a considerable amount of time and effort.
According to a recent report by Hawaii News Now, Gov. Josh Green and other officials from the state proposed an idea during their visit to Tokyo. The aim of the program is to increase tourism to Hawaii’s beautiful islands.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant decline in tourism from Japan, which is Hawaii’s primary international visitor market.
According to Green, Hawaii is eager to attract more tourists from Japan as they are known for their respectful behavior towards the land and the local culture. In fact, he mentioned that these tourists know how to carry themselves in Hawaii and take good care of the aina (land) using the Hawaiian term.
According to Green, implementing a pre-clearance program that has been under discussion for several years could pave the way for direct routes to other islands, including Maui. The town of Lahaina in West Maui suffered significant loss after a devastating wildfire. However, the Japan government stepped forward and donated $2 million in humanitarian aid to help the affected residents.
During the trip, State House Speaker Scott Saiki accompanied Green and expressed that officials in Japan had concerns regarding the program’s cost, implementation, and enforcement. Green plans to seek assistance from Hawaii’s congressional delegation to facilitate the implementation of the program.
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