Following the previous article, we report on the second day of the JATA (Japan Association of Travel Agents) overseas delegation to Hawaii, which met with Governor David Yutaka Ige, the head of the Hawaii State Government. After the meeting with JATA, Governor Ige and John de Vries, Director General and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), gave group interviews to the media.
The meeting took place at Washington Place, one of Hawaii’s historic buildings, famous as the home of Liliuokalani, the last Queen of Hawaii. It has since been used as the official residence of the governor (the current governor’s residence is in a separate building on the grounds), and is a prestigious place that is used for events hosted by the governor, such as this one.
Governor Ige opened his remarks to the JATA delegation by saying, “I would like to thank you for choosing Hawaii as your first stop. He then informed the group that Hawaii is the safest place in the United States with the lowest infection rate and the second lowest number of deaths. He added that the strict restrictions that had been in place, such as the mandatory wearing of masks, had now been lifted.
The tourism industry had been going through a difficult period for a while, as evidenced by the lockdown, but in the past year it has been recovering, especially among tourists from the U.S. mainland, and the economy is gradually picking up, he said. However, inbound tourism from overseas accounts for only 10% of the total, and when talking with people in the travel industry in Hawaii, one of the topics of conversation is “When are the Japanese coming back? He also shared with the audience how much Hawaii is looking forward to having Japanese visitors.
Governor Ige nodded his head repeatedly when JATA explained its future plans, and readily agreed to a request for a video message to convey the message of Hawaii’s safety to Japanese travelers. On the Big Island of Hawaii, he said he was looking forward to the return of direct flights to Kona International Airport now that its major renovation has been completed. He also mentioned environmental conservation, noting that Hawaii was the first state in the U.S. to declare the goal of 100% renewable energy, and that Hawaii is a leader in sustainability. In the same vein, he said, “I look forward to working with everyone to create safe, healthy, and sustainable activities in the future.
Interview with Governor Ige on the prospects in the Korona Disaster and the future of tourism in Hawaii
— What is the role of the tourism industry in achieving Hawaii’s goal of a sustainable society?
Governor Ige: Tourism is the most important industry for Hawaii. We are committed to a sustainable tourism industry, and we will continue our promotional activities targeting travelers who value and respect Hawaii. During the pandemic, the initial 14-day quarantine policy resulted in approximately 200,000 people losing their jobs. Tourism is such an important industry in Hawaii that we need to rebuild our tourism association in such a way that if there is an emergency in the future, it will not have a significant impact on the community.
–What are your thoughts on the ideal relationship between local communities and tourists?
Governor Ige: The Hawaii Tourism Authority is in the process of revamping its thinking about the future of tourism. In line with that, of course, having tourists come to Hawaii is a major economic force, but we also need to consider the environment of Hawaii and the environment of Hawaii, as well as the environment of Hawaii itself. However, we are also looking for ways to balance the impact of tourism on the environment, people, places, and culture of Hawaii. We want the tourists who come to Hawaii to have a special vacation, but at the same time, we also want the local community in Hawaii to benefit in some way, such as through improved infrastructure or a revitalized economy. I think the best way to achieve this would be in a way that benefits both travelers and Hawaii.
–What is your vision for the future of Hawaii and Japan?
Governor Ige: What is special about the relationship between Hawaii and Japan is that the people-to-people ties are very strong. Hawaii has sister city relationships with many Japanese prefectures and cities, and these relationships have been in place for many years. So the relationship between Hawaii and Japan is not just business, but it really goes down to a personal level, and I hope we can continue to have a good relationship in the future. The last half of my term in office was a difficult time for me, as I had never experienced anything like it in the past.
–Now that things are starting to turn around, what are your plans for tourism during the remainder of your term?
Governor Ige: Again, tourism is the most important industry for Hawaii’s economy. I myself am willing to help revitalize it, and I hope that the industry and the government will work hand in hand as true partners to develop it. I would like to help Hawaii get back to pre-pandemic numbers as soon as possible, and I believe this will have a positive impact on the Japanese tourism industry as well.
–I would like to ask the next governor if there are any tourism-related measures that he or she has planned before the Corona Disaster.
Governor Ige: I believe that now is the time for Hawaii’s tourism industry to be revitalized with new ideas. After the pandemic, I believe that the relationship that Japan and Hawaii have fostered is the best situation for exchange in order to make it more sustainable and to carry on the tradition. I feel that the values that Hawaii has cultivated over the years are very close to those of the Japanese tourists who visit our islands. They understand the importance of preserving the land and environment, and they respect Hawaiian culture, traditions, and environment. And there are many people who want to have more traditional Hawaiian experiences. We would be happy if people with that kind of mindset come to us in the future throughout the tourism industry, and we would like to create a situation where we can promote that aspect of the industry.
-There is a growing willingness to travel abroad in Japan, but there are still many people who feel uneasy about it. I believe that it is necessary to work to dispel these fears and to enable travelers to travel to Hawaii with the same peace of mind they have had in the past.
Governor Ige: We are working with our various partners in the Japanese travel industry to establish a system that will allow us to respond quickly to any concerns that may arise. We want to do everything we can to support tourists coming from Japan and ensure that they have a safe and enjoyable trip. We would like to spread the word in Japan that Hawaii is one of the healthiest and safest destinations in the United States.
–Hawaii has also had strict infectious disease control measures in place, but what was the deciding factor in turning them around? Please tell us for reference, since the decision of the government is really involved in the Japanese tourism industry as well.
Governor Ige: It was certainly a difficult decision. We were especially troubled by the impact it would have on the economy and business. Still, our top priority was the health and safety of Hawaii’s residents, so we put that first. Finally, the number of infected people and hospitalized patients had decreased considerably, and Hawaii’s medical system was able to afford to accept more travelers, so we were able to remove the restrictions. We are proud of the fact that Hawaii has one of the highest vaccination rates in the U.S. In addition, we are confident that we have a good treatment system in place in the event of a corona outbreak. We also have a low hospitalization rate. This low hospitalization rate is due to the fact that the time from the time a patient contracts coronas to the time of treatment is very short, and we have established a treatment process. These are the reasons for our decision.
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