A tourism official told today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin "economic tides are turning" so they decided to try the PR tactic out again. Publications taking part include La Opinion, the Spanish-language daily, in-flight mags from American Airlines and Virgin Blue Airlines, ElleCanada.com, Glam.com, LostGirlsWorld.com, a travel and lifestyle website; and regional lifestyle mags from Los Angeles, Aspen and San Francisco.
The Honolulu Advetiser reported the number of visitors to Hawaii climbed for the fourth straight month in March to more than 607,000, a 9.3 percent rise over March '09.
Hawaii officials have been debating how to boost the islands for consideration as a business travel destination. As KHON-TV's Jai Cunninham pointed out last week, "Make no doubt about it Hawaii is seen as a great getaway, but businesses sometime fear holding conventions or meetings here because of the appearance no work will get done. How can we change that image?"
In an odd twist, the 50th state could a tourism boost in the wake of the Iceland volcano eruption that caused chaos with airline travel last month. USA Today reported recently that "volcano tourism is suddenly hot."
(Image: GoHawaii)