Hawaii to Open to Japanese Tourists, Could Australia be Next?

Last month, Hawaii announced they would be opening up to tourists from the U.S mainland, utilising ‘rapid testing’ methods quickly adopted by several U.S airlines. 

The island state relies heavily on tourism for the economy, and has suffered significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic reducing visitor numbers.

Previously, Hawaii trialled a ‘hotel quarantine’ option, where guests could roam the resort freely while undergoing their two-week mandatory quarantine period. However, the ‘rapid testing’ has been working well – so well, in fact, that Hawaii is now opening to another of it’s main markets: Japan. 

Japanese and Korean tourists make up a large percentage of Hawaii’s annual visitors, and as the country has been handling the virus so well, both governments have agreed to conditionally open up borders to allow tourism. 

The first Japanese visitors will arrive in Hawaii on the 6th November. 

The requirements are the same as for mainland U.S visitors –arrivals must provide proof of a negative ‘NAAT’ Covid-19 test, taken from a trusted partner within the 72 hours prior to arrival. 

Hawaii previously opened up resorts for visitors to undergo quarantine. 

Hawaii government officials have confirmed they are working on similar arrangements with Canada, South Korea and Taiwan, and have been ‘intalks’ with Australia and New Zealand. 

Hawaii’s remote location and easily controlled borders, as well as the fact that Aussies and Kiwi’s can get direct flights there (without having to transit in riskier countries), all make the beautiful islands an ideal destination for us to begin opening up international travel. 

The Hawaiian government has expressed they would be very interested in opening up to both Australia and NZ, as our management of the virus makes us incredibly low-risk. 

Earlier in October, Australia’s PM Scott Morrison has said Australia will be moving ‘cautiously’ when reopening international travel, starting with just a ‘handful of countries’. 

The borders have already been relaxed for New Zealand visitors (though it has caused a few hassles), with hopes that the arrangement will become reciprocal by the end of the year.