Travel To Japan "Soon" In Summer?

Above, we may be able to visit Godzilla at Toho Studios again. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

KHON2 News, a Honolulu-based station, reports that there are indications that travel to Japan may be coming "soon", perhaps this summer.

Right now, only business and student travel to Japan is allowed, and that's limited.

Acccording to KHON2:

HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii Tourism Japan (HTJ) said the Japan Association of Travel Agents is sending its first delegation to the islands. The visit may come with some good news for locals whose sights are set on Japan.

HTJ said Japan is currently open for travel, but for those who have a visa or are an exchange student. That could change soon.

“The Japan government and the Japan travel industry is telling us that those restrictions for tourism reasons from the U.S. should be eased as well and so that’s where we’re looking at probably sometime in the summer when Hawaii residents are able to travel back to Japan.”    

- ERIC TAKAHATA OF HAWAII TOURISM JAPAN.

To read more, go here.

Hawaii Hotels Projected To Lose $1 Billion In Business Travel Revenue

Above, the Sheraton Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following should be in the "OUCH!" category.

The pandemic has done a real number on hotels and resorts around the world and that is true for Hawaii's hotel industry.

KHON2 reported:

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaii’s hotels are projected to lose more than a billion dollars by the end of this year.

That’s according to a report by the American Hotel and Lodging Association. The biggest impact coming from a huge drop in business travel.

 To read more, go here.