Lingle initiates
Japan campaignThe governor hopes to
win back visitors
by promoting Hawaii
TOKYO >> Gov. Linda Lingle arrived in Japan yesterday for a week-long trip to promote tourism in the islands and reverse a drop-off in Japanese visitors.
Lingle is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, airline and tour agency executives, and hold interviews with local television networks and newspapers during her stay.
"The governor is excited about the opportunities the state has and wants to let people know Hawaii is upbeat, safe and exciting," said Lenny Klompus, a spokesman for Lingle.
The governor "wants to let everyone know Hawaii is a great place to visit," he said.
The number of visitors to Hawaii from Japan has plummeted about 30 percent from a year ago as Japanese have cut back on overseas travel in the wake of the war in Iraq and the outbreak of SARS.
Underscoring the importance of Japanese tourists to Hawaii's economy, Klompus said Lingle's visit to Japan is her first trip outside the United States since she took office seven months ago.
Tourism industry officials, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste are accompanying Lingle on her tour.
Klompus said Lingle would emphasize promoting travel to Waikiki, where the recovery in visitors has lagged behind other destinations in the state.
The governor also plans to travel to U.S. Air Force and Army bases near Tokyo where she will meet with Hawaii military families.
After spending four days in Tokyo, the governor's delegation will head to Osaka, an industrial hub in western Japan, and head home Friday.
In October 2001, then-Gov. Ben Cayetano led a similar tourism mission to Japan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.