State leaders planning
Asia trip to drum up
support for tourism

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By Gary Kubota
gkubota@starbulletin.com

The tourism industry has high hopes for a trip to Japan next month planned by a group of Hawaii leaders including Gov. Ben Cayetano and Maui Mayor James Apana.

The delegation tours Japan from Oct. 7-12 in an attempt to encourage Japanese visitors to return to the islands, following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the east coast.

Sumo star Akebono has offered to help Cayetano in whatever way he can during the trip, said Cayetano spokesperson Kim Murakawa.

Murakawa said the group is expected to also include mayors of other islands and former governors John Waihee and George Ariyoshi.

Maui Visitors Bureau executive director Marsha Wienert said the trip should be done as soon as possible to show Hawaii leaders want Japan visitors.

"We need to show strength there, and unity," she said.

The trip is being done at the request of a number of travel businesses who say a visit could play a pivotal role in persuading Japanese visitors that Hawaii is a good destination compared with Europe and the mainland United States.

"I think there are some fears still flying, and we just wanted to convince Japanese people Hawaii is safe and a long distance from the mainland," said Steve Kawagishi, chief executive officer of Japan-Hawaii Travel Association, a nonprofit group that represents 28 tour operators.

Kawagishi said Japan visitors generate about 43 percent of the total amount of tourism money spent in the state and the number of Japanese visitors has decreased considerably since the terrorist attacks.

He said he understands that at this time of year, some 5,000 to 6,000 Japan visitors usually arrive daily in Hawaii.

"Right now, we're at 3,000," he said.

"We're hoping with the governor's procession, they would come."

Kawagishi said travel from Japan decreased considerably during the Gulf War, because visitors didn't want to travel and have fun in a country that was at war and the Japan government advised citizens to refrain from traveling abroad.

This time, Kawagishi said, the Japan government has not issued such an advisory.