Issue Position: Tourism
Issue Position
Senator Schatz understands that Hawai"i's prosperity is closely linked with its tourism economy, and has found ways throughout his career to expand, foster, and grow that sector to create jobs that support Hawai"i families.
In the Senate, he chairs the Tourism, Competitiveness and Innovation Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, where he is working to boost tourism for Hawai"i by growing Brand USA and expanding available visas for international travelers.
He also serves on the Aviation Subcommittee of the Commerce Committee, and actively used his position to work with TSA to expand their Precheck program to the Neighbor Islands, expediting security screening in Hawai"i airports. This recent expansion will encourage business travel and help grow local economies across the state. Senator Schatz is also a member of the Senate Tourism Caucus where he works with his colleagues to encourage visitors to Hawai"i and to make it easier on travelers throughout the country.
While Lieutenant Governor, Senator Schatz helped lead preparations when the State of Hawai"i was awarded the honor of hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Conference. With projections for 20,000 government and business leaders to arrive in Honolulu, then-Lieutenant Governor Schatz oversaw projects that made many infrastructure improvements around Honolulu Airport and Waikiki. At the end of that year, the Hawai"i Tourism Authority reported that the APEC Conference brought in $37.7 million for local hotels and served as an excellent opportunity to promote Hawai"i as a tourism destination.
Aware of how many of Hawai"i's visitors come from Japan, China, and other Pacific Rim nations, Senator Schatz has worked to strengthen ties between Hawai"i and nations in the Asia-Pacific region. As Lieutenant Governor, he took several trips to China and Asia to meet with CEOs and government leaders on economic collaboration, renewable energy partnerships, and increased tourism. He is now working hard in the Senate to increase the number of visitors coming in from China and Asia by reforming the visa waiver program. By establishing strong international bonds, Senator Schatz believes Hawai"i will continue to grow as a premier tourist destination.
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