In the American Express commercial, Jerry Seinfeld put the nossel into his car’s gas tank and began to pull the handle to fill his tank up as he screamed out, “Release the Hounds!” That statement reminds me of the anticipation of the wave of Chinese toursit expected to come visit the U.S. in the upcoming years.  In a sign of things to come, China has opened up vacation package tours to the U.S.  Is this the beginning stage of the boom to be?  The beginning to “Release the Hounds?”  The first arrivals are already here as isles welcome the influx of tourist.

Chinese tour groups left for Hawai’i and other places in the U.S. yesterday under a new agreement that the American travel industry hopes will bring in billions of dollars.

An initial group of more than 200 tourists was flying in from the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou for a 12-day visit that will take them to destinations such as Hawai’i, New York, Washington and Los Angeles. The trips cost about $4,000 each.

Chinese with visas have long been permitted to travel to the U.S. but the agreement signed last December considerably eased the way by conferring China’s “approved destination status” on this country.

Chinese travelers on average spend upward of $6,000 per visit to the U.S. — more than residents of any other nation — according to U.S. Commerce Department calculations.

Some of those who have had already arrived and have had a chance to do some sightseeing say they believe Hawai’i will become a major tourist destination for Chinese travelers.

I know it is just a start but changes seem to be occurring monthly with regards to an ease in visiting restrictions.  Ultimately the economic upside of this will prevail.

The first group to arrivewill be this week and will be greeted by Gov. Linda Lingle.  FHB changes to accept China Union Pay bankcard.