Cayetano to Japan
for tourism forum

He wants to push Hawaii's
business potential

Star-Bulletin staff

Gov. Ben Cayetano is expected to leave today for a weeklong trip to Japan to promote Hawaii business and tourism.

Cayetano tomorrow will join state Commerce and Consumer Affairs Director Kathryn Matayoshi and Insurance Commissioner Wayne Metcalf in Tokyo to promote Hawaii as the best place for captive insurance and risk facilities in the Pacific.

On Thursday, the governor will address the Japan-Hawaii Economic Council's tourism summit. He also speaks at the council's general meeting Friday through Sunday in Nagano, "Dawn of the 21st Century: Vision for Japan and Hawaii."

For the last three years, Hawaii has been the chosen destination for more than 2 million Japanese visitors annually. But Cayetano said the state is concerned because the number of Japanese visitors is down by almost 10 percent compared with 1998, even though more Japanese are traveling overseas.

Cayetano said the Japan-Hawaii Economic Council meetings are important because Hawaii's counterparts in the tourism industry are there to share information and advice about what we can do to improve Hawaii's visitor climate.

He said Hawaii has much to offer as a place to conduct business, as well as hold international business meetings at the Hawaii Convention Center.

"We are working to grow Hawaii's image as more than a sun, surf and shopping destination," Cayetano said.