The Hawaii Tourism Authority has started a partnership with a golf course membership company to lure high-spending Chinese golfers to the Aloha State.
HTA has partnered with Pacific Links, whose COO Micah Kane says would like to bring 200 to 300 Chinese players to Hawaii each month.
Historical data revealed that Chinese golfers spend an average $550 per day, more than double the average visitor spend in Hawaii.
Pacific Links operates five courses in Hawaii and also owns golf clubs in California, Nevada, West Virginia and China.
Vice president of brand management at the HTA David Uchiyama says it is the first time the agency has partnered with a private company to promote Hawaii golf to Chinese visitors.
In the past it has worked with Hyundai and Sony to lure golfers from South Korea and Japan respectively.
The Sony Open at Waialae Country Club, Honolulu tees off on Thursday, January 15 with Chinese golfers Liang Wen-Chong and Liu Yan-Wei among a field of 144 of the world’s best golf pros, which is hoped will boost exposure of Hawaii golf in China.
