Hawaii- HongKong- Macao- Hainan- China and The Centenary of China's 1911 Revolution
Tourism opportunity for Hawaii? The Father of Modern China Dr, Sun Yat-sen
The Father of Modern China Dr, Sun Yat-sen was educated at Iolani and Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii before returning to Hong Kong to complete his medical degree at the University of Hong Kong.
He has founded the Republic of China in 1911. China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and throughout Asia are celebration the 100th anniversary.
Hong Kong is taking full advantage of it promoting Dr. Sun Yat-sen on his ties with Hong Kong and Chungshan China.
Hawaii could take advantage of similar ties like Hong Kong for his ties here and the majority of Chinese immigrants were also from Chungshan, the hometown of Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
A delegation of more than 400 people from around the world visited Hawaii a month ago to celebrate Dr. Sun Yat-sen's 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Republic sponsored by the Taiwan Government. Few people locally has taken notice including the local English media.
Are we (Hawaii) taking advantage of it? If not, why not?
As high-rolling Hainan province tempts tourists with tax-free shopping, Hong Kong has gone highbrow in the battle for visitors by offering a Dr Sun Yat-sen tour.
As part of this year's celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the 1911 revolution, the Tourism Board is touting themed tours retracing the steps of the founding father of modern China for the upcoming "golden week" national holiday.
Sun described Hong Kong as his "intellectual birthplace".
Tourists can choose between stops including the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail, Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum in Central and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park in Sheung Wan.
Or they can enjoy the exhibition "Centenary of China's 1911 Revolution" at the Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui before enjoying a night's stay on a Star Cruises(SEHK: 0678) ship.
Some 300,000 promotional text messages will be sent to mobile phone users in southern China.
The board expects an increase of up to 15 per cent in mainland visitors for the May 1 to 3 holiday. About 80,000 people are expected to visit each day, Tourism Board executive director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said. This year so far, visitor numbers have increased by 14 per cent to 11.3 million. The number of mainland visitors rose 19 per cent to 7.3 million.
The Chinese Hainan province started a pilot tax-rebate program yesterday, attracting over 15,000 customers to Sanya's only tax-free store. However, Lau said it was unlikely to have a big impact on Hong Kong.
"Hainan appeals to mainland tourists as they don't need any permits to go there. However, the range of products in the tax-free store is limited," Lau said.
The Hainan brand name is becoming the world Aloha. Hawaii themes are visible in Hainan everywhere.
The fall in the number of Japanese visitors since the earthquake in the country has also started to diminish, Lau said, as business travelers stuck to their plans.
It was too early to say whether Hong Kong would pick up visitors from elsewhere who had planned to go to Japan, Lau said.
Comments
When I first heard of Dr. Sun Yat-sen during my first trip to Nanjing, I was taken aback at the time that Dr. Sun Yat-sen spent not only in Hawaii but in many other cities around the US. Upon returning to the US, I began working with the Dr. Sun Yat-sen organization and the chairman, Dr George K. F. Wang. I later produced an award winning radio presentation broadcast through the voice of Jinling (VOJ) Radio headquartered in Nanjing China, the entire program was in Chinese and English.
I believe we should all take a look at this most remarkable man whose memory should be preserved. I believe starting with Hawaii, we should honor this most daring thinker in modern day politics. Let's start today, create the celebration and attract the attention and educate the world on this most creative thinker.
Sun Yat-sen was a man ahead of his time and he was able to create a friendship and a link between the States and China many years ago. I hope we can continue to build on that friendship and let our audiences know that China and United States have shared many years of friendship and as my colleagues at Jiangsu Radio believe.
We too believe, we need to continue to educate our listeners and continue our goodwill towards each other's countries. Travel is the common denominator and the time is now to cross each other's borders and experience each others wonderful culture.”
Sandy Dhuyvette
Executive Producer and Host
TravelTalkRADIO and BusinessTravelRADIO
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