Lingle says visa restrictions hurt business with China
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
Gov. Linda Lingle said Hawai'i is losing a major segment of tourism business because of visa restrictions on travel from China, and the federal government needs to "wake up" to the growing importance of Asia.
• What: Forum on opportunities for Hawai'i businesses in China • Who: Speaker will be James Mayfield, commercial officer with the U.S. consul in Shanghai • When: Friday, 4 to 5 p.m. • Where: DBEDT Conference Room 436, 250 Hotel St. • Info: 587-2769, reservations required
She said federal officials have not realized that the future of the country should be focused toward the East, "not toward Europe."
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"They're still very Euro-focused," Lingle said. "But they're going to wake up to it because it's inevitable because that's where the world's population is growing."
Lingle told a meeting of the Hawaii Chinese Tourism Association yesterday that there is huge potential for Hawai'i in Chinese tourism and business development.
"The big challenge, of course, is the U.S. travel visas," Lingle said. She said there were efforts to fast-track visas for Chinese travelers to Hawai'i. "Progress was being made prior to 9-11 of 2001, and then things changed" as immigration restrictions tightened, she said.
If visas were not an issue, Lingle said, estimates are that 1.5 million to 2 million Chinese would come to Hawai'i annually. In 2000, fewer than 5,000 Chinese visitors a month came to the Islands.
Restoration of China Airlines flights between Taipei and Honolulu is a positive sign, she said. But visa restrictions are impeding flights by another China airline, China Eastern, which has the right to fly to Hawai'i, said Ted Liu, director of the state Department of the Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
DBEDT is continuing discussions with the federal government about speeding up visas for travel from China or establishing a Hawai'i-only visa.
"I'm going to take every opportunity I have to talk about these issues," Lingle said. "I think there is a way that we can resolve the visa issue, but I don't think it's going to be easy."
Lingle urged Chinese associations and businesses to work together on the issue.
"We need to have one strategy for the state of Hawai'i," Lingle said, "because when the rest of America wakes up, and they will wake up to China, we need to be years ahead of them." Part of that effort involves developing the travel services and facilities needed for Chinese tourists.
Lingle said the 2008 Olympics in Beijing represents a major opportunity for Hawai'i. Others include training Chinese in tourism development and management, environmental protection, biotechnology, healthcare and diversified agriculture.
