tourism

Visitor spending and arrivals are up across the islands compared to a year ago. That includes visitors from most markets in the Asia Pacific. And residents in one of those countries are setting records for foreign travel.

August was another month of growth for the state’s tourism industry, but only slightly.

We’re a week away from the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s annual Global Tourism Summit. While the state will update its latest strategies to attract visitors, other locations are considering similar plans. And that includes the capital of South Korea.

Hawaii’s tourism industry is on track for another year of growth. Last week, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported increased spending and visitor arrivals on every island except the Big Island. The figures are even more dramatic for another location that is expecting continued growth in tourism: Japan.

The government of New Zealand is looking at a proposal to tax its tourists. The measure would tack on an arrival charge for most international visitors, but the proceeds would go beyond well marketing.

A new economic report from the University of Hawai‘i’s Economic Research Organization takes a county-by-county look at what is shaping up to be a strong 2018.. Pacific Business News editor in chief A. Kam Napier has more.

Hawaii’s visitor industry reported another strong month in April, although any impact of the Kilauea Volcano won’t show up until the May figures come out next month. While authorities continue to encourage visitors to Hawaii, there’s another location in the Asia Pacific that is taking a different approach. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Tourism remains one of Hawai‘i’s economic pillars. And while 2017 was another year of records, the industry faces some new challenges this year. PBN editor in chief A. Kam Napier has more from a roundtable of tourism industry executives.

2017 was another record year for tourism in Hawai‘i for the sixth year in a row. But another Pacific island destination had an even bigger year last year—thanks in part to Hawai‘i. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Professional soccer is once again trying to find a foothold in Hawai‘i. Organizers of this week’s Pacific Rim Cup hope to make Hawai’i the international east-meets-west sporting venue. HPR’s Ku’uwehi Hiraishi reports.

Tourism is not only the center of Hawai‘i’s economy, it’s a growing part of the global economy. And while countries are figuring out the best ways to market themselves to visitors, one Asian country is coming under criticism for its latest efforts. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The final numbers aren’t in yet, but tourism officials expect 2017 to be another record year for visitors to Hawai‘i. That would make it the sixth straight year for record growth. That closely matches another Pacific location that also continues to set tourism records. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Japanese visitors have played an important role in driving Hawaii’s tourism numbers to new records. But since North Korea made threats about Guam this summer, Japanese travel to that Pacific island has dropped. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The final numbers are not in yet, but expectations are that 2017 will turn out to be another record year for tourism in Hawai‘i. Conversations are continuing about balancing tourism growth with protection of natural resources around the state. But elsewhere in the Pacific, an island that likes to compare itself to Hawai‘i is making some changes. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Last month, China told its tourist agencies to stop all flights to the Pacific island nation of Palau, in what’s believed to be a protest over a recent visit by the President of Taiwan. Chinese tourists made up more than half of Palau’s tourists last year, but, as we hear from Neal Conan in today’s Pacific News Minute, Palau doesn’t seem worried.

Most tourists come to Hawaiʻi on vacation for rest and relaxation, but there’s a popular trend in visitors coming to Hawaiʻi to volunteer their time and labor. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi steps into the world of volunteer tourism or “voluntourism.”

The state of Hawai‘i is heading for another record year for tourism. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism expects visitor arrivals to top last year’s figure of 8.9 million—with further growth next year. But it’s been a different story for tourism this year in Korea, both South and North. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

2017 is being dubbed the Year of Sustainable Travel by the World Tourism Organization. “Sustainability” may seem like a buzzword for an industry historically known for making a profit at the expense of the local environment, culture, or community. So what makes tourism sustainable? HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi looks at a local organization setting that standard for Hawai’i’s visitor industry.  

  Hawaii’s economic growth is predicted to slow down, with an exception in one key sector. PBN editor-in-chief A. Kam Napier has more.

It’s been a week with a focus on visitors as the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority wrapped up its Global Tourism Summit. One visitor market that state officials hope to cultivate is South Korea. It’s a country that’s seeing a rise in international travel with a special week of holidays coming up. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

HI-SEAS; Big island Tourism; Hana Flights

Culture and commerce are often seen as forces in conflict. But here in Hawaiʻi, the culture is one of the driving forces of the state’s largest commercial sector – tourism. This week, HPR takes a closer look at tourism as part of our series - Travelling Money: Managing Hawai’i’s Tourism Future.  HPR reporter Ku’uwehi Hiraishi looks at the role of Hawaiian culture in the future of tourism.

When it comes to international visitors, Japan has long been the top market for Hawai‘i. And while this year continues to break records for tourism in Hawai‘i, it’s also an active year for tourism in Japan. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This week, we’ve been looking at the tourism industry throughout the state, in our series “Traveling Money: Managing Hawai‘i’s Tourism Future.”  Today we get an update about Hawai'i Island, where tourism is the best it’s been in a decade. HPR contributing reporter Sherry Bracken has more from Kona. 

Global Food Production; Sustainable Tourism; Big Wave Surfing for Women

From hiking trails to beaches, the feeling of being overrun by visitors can be inescapable on some weekends here in Hawai’i. This week, HPR takes a closer look at tourism as part of our series - Travelling Money: Managing Hawai’i’s Tourism Future. HPR Reporter Ku’uwehi Hiraishi asks how much is too much?

Deporting Veterans; Resilient Cities; Politics of Tourism

This week, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority holds its annual Global Tourism Summit. The travel industry is growing around the world, and some destinations are going to unusual lengths to attract visitors. That includes one particular spot in China. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

As the state legislature continues its deliberations this week on financing the Honolulu rail project, there is a focus on taxes. One of the taxes involved largely concerns tourists—the Transient Accommodations Tax. But some countries in the Asia Pacific are considering other kinds of travel taxes. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The state’s largest tourism conference is less than a month away. The theme of this year’s Global Tourism Summit is sustainability. And that’s one characteristic that may be missing from an unlikely country that’s refusing to give up on tourism: North Korea. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.