Hawaii to spend $3 million to offset loss of Japanese tourists

The Hawaii Tourism Authority voted today to spend more than $3 million on programs to drive demand and airlift to offset substantial losses related to the tsunami and earthquake in Japan and the radiation scare.

The money will be used to stabilize all tourism markets and to focus on achieving 2011’s goal to bring in $12.07 billion in overall spending, said David Uchiyama, HTA vice president of brand management.

Efforts will be concentrated on driving business from North America, Oceania, Korea and China and to shore up the Japan market, Uchiyama said.

Through June, the HTA expects to lose at least 4.4 percent of its targeted arrivals and 4.1 percent of its targeted spending. During the same period, the state expects to lose at least 21.7 percent of its targeted Japan arrivals and 21.7 percent of its targeted Japan spending.