State goal is 2M Japanese arrivals per year

The Hawaii Tourism Authority and a hui of Japanese travel agents raise the bar

By Allison Schaefers

~~<p>The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Japan Association of Travel Agents are committed to returning visitor arrivals from Japan to Hawaii to 2 million per year by 2016.</p>
<p>The push, which will begin next year, is part of a memorandum of understanding signed Thursday by HTA and JATA at the close of the annual Japan-Hawaii Tourism Council Meeting held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Reaching the new Japan arrivals goal would pump an estimated $4 billion in annual expenditures and $440 million in state tax revenue into Hawaii's economy, said HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney. It would also further diversify Hawaii's visitor economy and bolster important ties, McCartney said.</p>
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The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Japan Association of Travel Agents are committed to returning visitor arrivals from Japan to Hawaii to 2 million per year by 2016.

The push, which will begin next year, is part of a memorandum of understanding signed Thursday by HTA and JATA at the close of the annual Japan-Hawaii Tourism Council Meeting held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Reaching the new Japan arrivals goal would pump an estimated $4 billion in annual expenditures and $440 million in state tax revenue into Hawaii's economy, said HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney. It would also further diversify Hawaii's visitor economy and bolster important ties, McCartney said. Login for more...