Japan and Hawaii Plan to Simplify Immigration and Customs Procedures with Pre-Departure Checks

Hawaiian illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Wilson Team)

JAKARTA - The State of Hawaii, United States is working with national and Japanese immigration authorities to create a system that allows Japanese tourists to complete immigration and customs procedures before departure, said Hawaii Governor Josh Green recently.

In an interview with Kyodo News Governor Green said, this new initiative will allow direct flights from Japan to more islands in Hawaii, even those that do not have immigration facilities, making travel more convenient, boosting the local economy which is experiencing a decline in the number of tourists from Japan since the coronavirus pandemic.

Later, the plan will cover the island of Maui, which was devastated in August by forest fires that left more than 100 people dead or missing.

"It is very important for people to travel to Maui, because our recovery will be accelerated if people visit anywhere on Maui, anywhere," said Governor Green during a recent visit to Japan, reported by Kyodo News, November 21 November

According to Hawaii authorities, about 1.17 million people traveled to Hawaii from Japan between January and September 2019, before the pandemic, compared with about 380,000 people in the same period this year.

Visitors from Japan have been slow to return compared with tourists from other countries, including from the mainland United States. Governor Green attributed this to the yen being "weaker than usual" and the younger generation being less interested in travelling.

Currently, Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on the island of Oahu is the main gateway to the islands from Japan. If travelers can complete immigration procedures before departure, it would simplify the entry process to Hawaii, paving the way for direct flights to other islands, such as Maui, Green said.

Previously, Japan agreed to a similar pre-departure immigration permit initiative with South Korea in 2002, when the two countries hosted the soccer World Cup.

However, the United States is believed to be concerned about establishing overseas immigration procedures, and federal immigration authorities will decide whether to implement them.

Japanese tourists to Hawaii spent $1.65 billion between January and September 2019, compared with $608.5 million in the first nine months of 2023, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

"Japanese tourists have traditionally been among our best tourists, as they are very culturally conscious and also spend a lot of resources," explained Governor Green, adding he aims to do what is necessary to promote travel between Japan and Hawaii.