HI HR89

Create a tourism task force within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to focus on increasing tourism from China and Taiwan.

Task force should include representatives from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Tourism Asia, and members of the Chinese Community.

Task force shall address barriers to Chinese tourism including lack of non-stop direct flights between China and Hawaii and develop relationships with government officials and private business.

Task force shall educate Hawaii businesses and residents on serving Chinese and Taiwanese tourists, train personnel, create partnerships with tourism education programs including Kapiolani Community College and University of Hawaii, and promote product sales in these markets.

Average daily spending by Chinese and Taiwanese tourists in Hawaii is $283 per person, the highest of any geographic visitor source, with projections of 100 million outbound travelers from China and Taiwan by 2020.