How the Hawaiian Islands are being promoted to travelers worldwide, particularly in its largest markets, is receiving added emphasis at this year’s Global Tourism Summit, taking place September 19-21 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
Presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the three-day summit features a diversity of sessions covering topics and trends important to the future of Hawaii’s tourism industry, including Hawaiian culture, eco-tourism, innovation and technology. Sustainable tourism is the summit theme.
“We are bringing more of a forward-looking, global perspective to the presentation of how the Hawaii brand is being marketed and the factors that offer both challenges and opportunities to industry partners,” said George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO, in a written release. “Attendees will hear first-hand how their business development and new partnerships can be expanded and strengthened.”
Global marketing of Hawaii, most notably the outlook and highlights of activities in 2018, will be addressed in general sessions for the State’s four largest markets, United States, Japan, Canada, and Oceania.
Topics being covered for each market include travel consumers being targeted; industry trends and the impact on the market; economic and political environment; new technologies and how they are being utilized; and potential business from the meetings and conventions market.
The outlook for Hawaii’s developing markets, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Europe, will be examined in a panel discussion. The economic overview, geo-political situation, effects on tourism, industry trends, and how travel to Hawaii is impacted will be addressed for each market.
Roughly 200 representatives of tour operators and wholesalers from 12 nations are taking part in the Global Tourism Summit and meeting with Hawaii-based suppliers and providers on partnership opportunities.
Nearly half of the international participants are from Japan. More than 25 tour operator representatives are coming from China, with more than 10 each from South Korea and Malaysia.
“Developing new business is a continuous process to sustain success in today’s global travel arena,” said Szigeti. “One of the Summit’s key objectives is to help Hawaii companies foster opportunities that strengthen their business outlook. We encourage any enterprise that benefits from tourism’s success to capitalize on the partnerships to be realized at the Global Tourism Summit.”
Visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org
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