[ OUR OPINION ]
State, tourism industry
have prepared for war
THE ISSUEState officials and tourism businesses have sought to develop a strategy to ease the economic effects of a war in Iraq.
A recent edition of Minnesota Public Radio's "A Prairie Home Companion" included a skit featuring references, in recognizable presidential drawl, to "the war against tourism." Hawaii government and business leaders know that is no laughing matter in a state whose economy relies so heavily on the visitor industry. They are to be commended for trying to assemble a plan for dealing with the economic consequences of adding a war in Iraq to the year-and-a-half-long war against terrorism.
CORRECTION
Wednesday, March 12, 2003» The "Hawaii Value Pass" was the name of the unsuccessful discount program for tourists following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. An editorial yesterday incorrectly referred to it as the "Hawaii Value Tax."
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.The state House created a Committee on War Preparedness in late January, and its members have been provided valuable wisdom gained from periods following the Gulf War in 1991 and the terrorist strikes of Sept. 11 a decade later. Hawaii's economy suffered from those conflicts and still has not recovered from the terrorist attacks. For one, the state learned that a "Hawaii Value Tax," offering discounts to visitors at local attractions, restaurants and retailers, didn't work.
State administration officials reported to legislators a month ago that people can be expected to stay close to home during a crisis, regardless of advertising, that travel will decrease for a few months, and that Japanese will be slower to resume travel than Americans, Europeans, Australians and Chinese. A prolonged war obviously would have longer-lasting effects.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has developed a contingency plan to cancel advertising for two months as soon as the first shots are fired. The House committee appears to have rejected that plan, recommending instead an expenditure of $5 million for marketing if the United States starts a war in Iraq. If executed, that strategy could prove to be both futile for the tourism industry and aggravating to the state's budget problems. The committee also recommended various reductions in airline fees and taxes, and assistance to military families.
Hawaii tourism industry officials were taken by surprise following Sept. 11 when the Japan Association of Travel Agencies issued a blanket recommendation to Japanese not to travel. Tony Vericella, head of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, said he has been assured that the association will not repeat that advice in the event of an Iraq war, "and it will not encourage its members to waive cancellation fees" to reluctant travelers.
The state tried to counter the travel association's advice a month after the Sept. 11 attack by sending a delegation led by then-Gov. Ben Cayetano and including mayors, two former governors and Japanese sumo wrestler Akebono of Hawaii to Japan to encourage visits. That was followed by advertising and special promotions to restore Japanese tourism.
The effort has been regarded as beneficial, even though Japanese tourism has not entirely recovered. The House committee has made the sensible recommendation that Governor Lingle lead a delegation including former Gov. George Ariyoshi, banker Walter Dods and others to Japan several weeks after a war in Iraq begins.
BACK TO TOP
Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, Assistant Editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, Assistant Editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.comMary Poole, Editorial Page Editor, 529-4748; mpoole@starbulletin.com
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
Oahu Publications at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
