Hawaii Mayors Tour to Promote Hawaiian Tourism
Tracy Bee
September 10, 2009
"Hawaii: A Thousand Reasons to Smile" is the latest campaign by The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. With the campaign specifically targeted at California, Hawaii's four island mayors recently traveled to Los Angeles to raise awareness and promote island tourism. While there, they attended organized events and spoke on various radio programs.
According to the mayors, now is the best time to travel to Hawaii. While Hawaii has long been stigmatized as one of the most expensive travel destinations, all things Hawaii have recently become much more affordable. The 2008 tourism drought, spurred by the lagging American economy, has led to dramatic price drops in 2009. Numerous Hawaii hotel and flight promotions fall within very reasonable travel budgets. In fact, Budget Travel magazine ranked Hawaii as one its top recommended travel destinations for 2009.
These great travel deals are meant to re-infuse Hawaii´s economy. Maui mayor Charmaine Tavares suggests that tourism recovery is essential to the state's overall economic recovery. The local economy has always depended upon a steady stream of visitors.
Promoting Hawaiian culture was also on the mayors' agenda. Beyond leis, luaus, and Mai Tais, most people know very little about Hawaii. Yet, getting in touch with Hawaiian culture is available to all visitors, if they wish to find it.
David Gaynes, Founder of Wellness with Aloha, advises that "a much deeper or more meaningful connection to Hawaii is possible." Gaynes hopes to change the face of Hawaiian tourism by cultivating a stronger relationship between the Hawaiian community and visitors. He also believes that this will support the islands' overall wellness. Through his company based on The Big Island, "some of the wisest and most powerful people in the Hawaiian community are now interacting with visitors for the first time."
While in Los Angeles promoting Hawaiian culture and tourism, Mayors Mufi Hannemann, Charmaine Tavares, Billy Kenoi, and Bernard Carvalho repeated the message found on The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau´s website: "The people of Hawaii would like to share their islands with you."
This mayoral trip to Los Angeles marks the first time that all four Hawaii mayors have traveled together to promote tourism. The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has other similar promotional events planned for coming months.
According to the mayors, now is the best time to travel to Hawaii. While Hawaii has long been stigmatized as one of the most expensive travel destinations, all things Hawaii have recently become much more affordable. The 2008 tourism drought, spurred by the lagging American economy, has led to dramatic price drops in 2009. Numerous Hawaii hotel and flight promotions fall within very reasonable travel budgets. In fact, Budget Travel magazine ranked Hawaii as one its top recommended travel destinations for 2009.
These great travel deals are meant to re-infuse Hawaii´s economy. Maui mayor Charmaine Tavares suggests that tourism recovery is essential to the state's overall economic recovery. The local economy has always depended upon a steady stream of visitors.
Promoting Hawaiian culture was also on the mayors' agenda. Beyond leis, luaus, and Mai Tais, most people know very little about Hawaii. Yet, getting in touch with Hawaiian culture is available to all visitors, if they wish to find it.
David Gaynes, Founder of Wellness with Aloha, advises that "a much deeper or more meaningful connection to Hawaii is possible." Gaynes hopes to change the face of Hawaiian tourism by cultivating a stronger relationship between the Hawaiian community and visitors. He also believes that this will support the islands' overall wellness. Through his company based on The Big Island, "some of the wisest and most powerful people in the Hawaiian community are now interacting with visitors for the first time."
While in Los Angeles promoting Hawaiian culture and tourism, Mayors Mufi Hannemann, Charmaine Tavares, Billy Kenoi, and Bernard Carvalho repeated the message found on The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau´s website: "The people of Hawaii would like to share their islands with you."
This mayoral trip to Los Angeles marks the first time that all four Hawaii mayors have traveled together to promote tourism. The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has other similar promotional events planned for coming months.
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