Reforming the visa process is a cost-effective, common-sense way to make it easier and more inviting for international businesses and tourists to come to Hawaii and mainland U.S.
The legislation would create five-year, multiple-entry visas for Chinese visitors, and extend the amount of time Canadian retirees can stay in the U.S. to 240 days (up from 180 days). The visas would be renewable every three years, along with other visa waiver program changes and reforms intended to increase tourism across the country.
54 million Chinese citizens traveled internationally in 2010, and 3.7 million of them made trips to Europe, but the U.S. only welcomed 800,000 Chinese visitors that year. Chinese citizens interested in traveling to the U.S. currently can apply for a one-year, multiple-entry visa.
Around 62,000 Chinese travelers and more than 400,000 Canadians visited Hawaii in 2010.
Visit USA Act could lead to nearly 300,000 new visitors to Hawaii annually, most of which she expects to come from China. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Chinese travelers spend an average of $350 a day in the state, and the additional arrivals from that market could generate up to $573 million annually for the destination.
China Eastern Airlines inaugurated the first scheduled nonstop flight connecting China and Hawaii last August, offering twice-weekly service between Shanghai and Honolulu.
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