New South Korea visa rules could boost Hawaii tourism
Advertiser Staff
President Bush is rescinding visa requirements for South Korean citizens, giving Hawai'i's tourism industry a likely boost.
State tourism officials have long hoped the U.S. would lift the visa requirements in the expectation an increase in visitors from South Korea would help offset a drop in Japanese tourists.
Officials have said they believe the number of South Korean tourists visiting Hawai'i could quadruple over the next few years if the U.S. lifted the restrictions.
Currently, about 35,000 South Korean tourists come to Hawai'i each year.
Bush also lifted visa requirements for citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.