President Bush is rescinding visa requirements for South Korean citizens, giving Hawai’i’s tourism industry a likely boost.

This is great news. This coupled with the easing of restrictions for Chinese tourists should go a long way in helping boost Hawaii Tourism. 

Hawai’i tourism officials are looking forward to an expected upswing in South Korean tourists in the wake of the much-anticipated announcement this week by President Bush that the visa waiver program will expand in January. Last year, there were 41,869 visitors from South Korea, and tourism officials predict that number will double within two years.

According to the HTA, in 2007 South Korea visitors stayed 11 days on average and spent $217 each per day. Visitors from the Mainland spend about $162 a day.