Hawaii Rejects More Chinese Visa Requests

Rejected visa applications are keeping thousands of Chinese tourists from visiting Hawaii. Quoting the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Skift reports that more than 2,000 of the 6,000 Nu Skin (producer of personal care products) distributors in China and Hong Kong that were slated to attend a conference in Hawaii were not able to attend due to visa troubles. The Nu Skin convention is slated to be Hawaii’s largest incentive travel group from China. Typically, 10-15% of visa applicants for large groups traveling to Hawaii are rejected, but the Nu Skin rate was significantly higher. Hawaii and other US cities looking to increase Chinese tourism have been working with the US Travel Association to advocate for visa improvements. Some travel officials say they are concerned about the Trump administration’s effect on travel.