United States Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, has introduced a new bill to Congress with David Dreier, California, to help ease visa procedures for Canadian and Chinese visitors. The bill, known as the Visa Improvements to Stimulate International Tourism to the United States of America Act, or VISIT USA Act, would allow Chinese tourist to apply for a five-year multiple entry visitor visa instead of the current one-year multiple entry visitor visa. Other changes would include lowering fees during off peak seasons and offering the option to speed up the application process for an additional processing fee. Congresswoman Hirono stated, "Our economy is still weak, and too many people are still looking for work. Travel and tourism is one area where I think we can bridge this divide."
The Hawaii Tourism Authority would really like to see such a bill passing at the federal level. In 2010, approximately 62,000 Chinese visitors visited the islands and spent an average of $350 per day on their six day average trip. That totaled approximately $573 million for Hawaii's economy. The Hawaii Tourism Authority feels that if the visa application process became easier, even more Chinese visitors would visit the Hawaiian islands.
