Big Island bureau
courts travel writers

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Star-Bulletin staff

HILO >> The Big Island Visitors Bureau is enlisting the aid of travel journalists -- one from each of the 50 states -- in an effort to boost tourism.

Those selected will be invited to visit the Big Island free of charge for a week in return for writing a travel article or broadcasting a story to spur travel, the bureau announced yesterday.

"In the past, we teamed up with our visitor industry to host travel journalists from around the globe," said George Applegate, the bureau's executive director. "Right now, we feel it is important to remind Americans that Hawaii's Big Island is paradise and it is open for business."

Interested travel journalists -- including those focusing on food, lifestyle, golf, family, romance, adventure, sports and health and wellness -- have been invited to submit applications to the Big Island Visitors Bureau. The application deadline is April 15. One writer will be selected from every state.

Those invited will receive round trip airfare and hotel accommodations for seven nights, and be reimbursed for meals and ground transportation, the bureau said.