HTA Coordinating 9-Point Tourism Response Plan

File photo.

By Sonia Isotov

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has been issuing daily briefings since the tsunami event and yesterday also released a 9-point response coordination plan.

In a written statement yesterday, the HTA expressed its concern for the Japan and offered the following 9-point plan to enable improved coordination of response to last week’s tsunami event in Japan:

1. Convey our heartfelt aloha and support to the people of Japan
2. Make sure visitors from Japan who were stranded get home
3. Support visitor needs while they remain in Hawaii
4. Assess the impact on the Japan market
5. Develop and execute new plans
6. Maintain open communications with airlines, travel agents, wholesalers and other industry stakeholders
7. Coordinate with global marketing partners, including Hawai'i Tourism Japan in Tokyo
8. Coordinate with Governor Neil Abercrombie, Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz, travel agencies, travel partners, Hawai'i's business leaders, community leaders and others on support efforts
9. Provide regular updates to industry partners and media

As Hawaii’s response efforts have moved forward, the HTA has also received numerous requests for information on the situation and has been issuing daily updates. Today’s briefing included the following information:

• All passengers displaced by the tsunami due to cancelled flights should be returning to Japan by today and to accommodate passengers, Delta Airlines, Japan Airlines and China Airlines have added additional seat capacity and flights.
•  All major travel companies are working with their customers to accommodate their various inquiries.
•  There was minimal impact to Hawaii’s statewide visitor infrastructure. The Island of Hawai’i was most affected, but as of today, most businesses are operating as usual. 
• There have been some cancellations for travel to Hawai’i from Japan and HTA is continuing to monitor bookings to determine the level of impact.
• The HTA reports that the Honolulu Festival was a great success over the past weekend, especially with so many Hawaii people coming together and expressing their support for the people of Japan. 

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