The great wall of bureaucracy faced by travelers between the United States and China should be a little less imposing now that both countries have agreed to extend the validity of tourist and business visas.
President Barack Obama announced Monday in China that both countries would extend tourist and business visas from a year to a decade. Under the reciprocal agreement, student and cultural exchange visas also were extended to five years. While the agreement does not apply to visas for journalists, Obama is expected to discuss the issue separately with Chinese officials, who have sometimes restricted foreign news organizations whose coverage was considered unfavorable.
The extension, which begins Wednesday, is a "milestone" for the state’s tourism industry, said Mike McCartney, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which has been working for more than a decade to ease travel for the Chinese who want to come to Hawaii.
"China has become a market with tremendous growth potential. We look forward to working with our marketing contractor, Hawaii Tourism China, and industry partners to enhance travel opportunities and attract Chinese visitors to ensure the long-term sustainability of our tourism economy," McCartney said.
McCartney said China is a source market with tremendous potential which delivered 128,792 visitors to Hawaii during the first nine months of the year.
The new visa has been criticized by some tourism officials as only a modest gain because it won’t allow a Chinese traveler to stay in the U.S. longer than six months or exempt the visitor from the arduous interview requirement. However, other officials say it will be a boon for frequent travelers because it does streamline their travel planning and reduce the cost of future visits. And, it could bring Hawaii closer to its goal of attracting 152,650 Chinese tourists this year.
"Tourism is a vital contributor to the U.S. economy and to Hawaii in particular, and should not be underestimated," said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, which in April launched direct service between Honolulu and Beijing.
"With an enormous population and a burgeoning middle class, the new visa policy will positively impact tourism and create new jobs over the long term by making our islands more easily accessible for Chinese travelers," Dunkerley said. "Hawaiian Airlines offers three-times weekly service between Honolulu and Beijing, and we are well positioned to introduce this growing and steady new stream of visitors to our home."
