Posted on: Sunday, August 8, 2004

EDITORIAL
China tourism 'boom' requires readiness

The day will soon come when tourism from China will become a driving force, not just in Asia and the Pacific, but around the world.

When China's doors truly open for outward-bound travelers, Hawai'i can, and should, be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.

An important first step in that regard is news that the Chinese government has approved the opening of a Hawai'i tourism office in Beijing. Hawai'i is the second state, after Nevada, to open such an office.

The new office will be a valuable resource for the trickle of tourists and business people already making their way to the Islands.

Some day, that trickle will become a flood. And Hawai'i should be ready.

This means encouraging study and interest in the Chinese language among those who work in the tourist industry.

It means making sure that our tourism infrastructure is prepared for the needs and desires of the Chinese visitor.

It does not mean, however, that we should remake ourselves so that Hawai'i "feels like home" to the Chinese tourist.

As we learned during the Japanese tourism boom, visitors from other lands want to feel comfortable here, but they are disappointed if what they get is a vaguely tropical version of what they could get in their own country.