Big Island Visitors Bureau Officially Changes Its Name

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HONOLULU, Hawaii -- After years of trying to change its name to better reflect the destination its represents, the Big Island Visitors Bureau is now the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau (IHVB).

As part of Travel Agent's ongoing coverage of the Hawaii Tourism Conference, which is run by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, we sat down with Ross Birch, executive director of IHVB, and chatted about the significance of the name change. 

"If you've been to Hawaii Island before, we don't care what you call us," says Birch. "You can call us 'The Big Island' or whatever else you want, but Hawaii Island is always looking to attract the visitor who has never been to Hawaii. And for those visitors, 'The Big Island,' is confusing."

Because Hawaii's main airport is Honolulu International Airport on Oahu, many people just assumed "The Big Island" referred to Oahu, says Birch.

"I feel like we've been selling Oahu for 20 years," joked Birch.
 

Birch told Travel Agent the name change was officially approved back in August.

"The name 'The Big Island' we felt just took away from that cultural connection we have," says Birch. "Hawaii Island is a place made of cultural practitioners. And 'The Big Island' didn't reflect that."

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