Hawaii tourism officials and politicians are applauding the news that the Bush administration plans to ease travel restrictions next month for visitors from South Korea and six other European countries that have allied ties to the U.S.

President Bush is expected announce today that Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and South Korea will be added to the U.S. visa waiver program as early as next month, the Associated Press reported yesterday.

“;President Bush has been bullish for some time in regards to the seven countries in granting them visa waivers and we are very pleased that he is going forward with this initiative,”; said state Tourism Liaison Marsha Wienert.

When the requirement to obtain a visa is lifted for South Korean visitors to Hawaii, visitor counts from that country to the islands are expected to double the first year and again the second year, Wienert said.

A few years ago when the visa requirement for wedding and honeymoon couples traveling to Hawaii from South Korea was expedited, the islands saw an increase in traffic from this niche market, she said.

“;We would expect to see another increase as a result of them not having to go through the arduous visa process,”; Wienert said. “;The lines for visas used to wind around the block.”;

In the last six months, Wienert said there has been a stagnation of visitors from South Korea to the U.S. But that is expected to change when the new travel policy takes effect, she said.

“;Anecdotally, we hear that everyone is waiting to come over when the visa requirement is lifted,”; Wienert said.

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Tourism, Arts, Parks, Education and Sports committee, has long pushed for a travel policy that would ease travel restrictions and make it easier for visitors from allied countries to visit Hawaii and the mainland.

“;The future of the world is in the Asia Pacific, so it only stands to reason that granting visa waivers for more of these countries will benefit the U.S. and Hawaii,”; Hannemann said. “;Currently, only 23 out of the 27 countries that have visa-waiver status are in the Asia Pacific region, so the addition of South Korea is a huge gain.”;

The latest news represents the progression of a memorandum of understanding signed between the U.S. and South Korea in the spring. Hannemann also traveled to South Korea in October 2007 to offer his support.

Hannemann said that with South Korea on track for visa-waiver status, he will begin focusing on Taiwan and China.