Hawaii is in discussions to adopt pre travel immigration and customs clearance for inbound Japan tourists.
As a main source market, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green wants to boost traffic from japan which has been slow to recover since the pandemic.
Hawaii is working with Immigration and CBP officials.
It would speed up arrival procedures and hopefully attract more direct flights beyond Honolulu.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu is the main transpacific gateway.
Gov. Green is hoping for direct services to Maui to help the recovery from the wildfires.
More than 100 people died in the fires this summer.
“It’s very important that people travel to Maui because our recovery will be accelerated if people do visit anywhere in Maui, anywhere at all,” Green said recently.
Japan tourists spent around $600 million in the first nine months of 2023, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
“Japanese tourists have traditionally been among our best tourists because they are very thoughtful about the culture and also spend a great deal,” Green said.
