 |
| |
The Pacific Business Journal reports that presenters at this week’s Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) spring marketing update see opportunities to turn around the state’s tourism industry.
“We feel the pendulum is slowly changing,” said David Uchiyama, HTA’s vice president for tourism marketing.
Initiatives include reductions in airline fuel surcharges, the potential of increased air seats from Asia and the Mainland, hotels willing to offer package deals, and sustained interest in Hawaii as a visitor destination, especially as it celebrates 50 years of statehood.
Hawaii Visitors & Conventions Bureau officials are less optimistic about the North American meetings market. The fallout over Wells Fargo canceling a planned meeting in Waikiki this year and growing outrage over the use of federal bailout money to pay for AIG executive bonuses has many larger companies canceling trips.