HONOLULU, Hawaii – Hawaii Governor David Ige is meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, travel industry partners, corporations and businesses today, his first full day in Tokyo, Japan.
The governor is in Japan to promote and expand travel to the Hawaiian Islands and to discuss the possible pre-clearance of flights from Japan to Hawai‘i and the U.S., which would ease access to the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu is currently the fourth largest port of entry for overseas arrivals to the U.S.
Japan has 18 daily flights to the Hawaiian Islands each day, bringing in an annual 1.5 million visitors, who spend about $2.4 billion a year. That equates to $257 million in state tax revenues annually.
On Tuesday, June 16 (Wednesday, June 17 in Japan): Gov. Ige is scheduled to meet with travel industry partners, including airlines and travel agents before attending an evening reception with Japan’s travel industry leaders.
On Wednesday, June 17 (Thursday, June 18 in Japan): Gov. Ige will meet with the Japan-Hawai‘i Legislators Friendship Association, various airlines and travel industry partners.
On Thursday, June 18 (Friday, June 19 in Japan): Gov. Ige will meet with Liberal Democratic Party members of the House of Representatives. He is also scheduled to meet with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The governor is being accompanied on this trip by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s (HTA) Japan marketing partner, Chief of Staff Mike McCartney and Executive Services Assistant Scott Tome.
The estimated cost of this trip is $9,800 for air, hotel and ground transportation.
First Lady Dawn Ige will be joining the contingent on Wednesday, having departed for Japan Monday morning. Mrs. Ige’s travel expenses will not be paid with state funds.
Gov. Ige returns to Hawai‘i on Friday, June 19, 2015.
