Hawai‘i Governor Josh Green, M.D., has announced the expansion of the U.S. Global Entry program to Japanese citizens, a move poised to significantly enhance tourism and economic ties between Japan and Hawai‘i. This development allows Japanese travelers expedited processing upon arrival in the United States, streamlining their entry and potentially boosting visitor numbers to the Aloha State.
The Global Entry program facilitates swift airport processing for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Previously, participation for Japanese citizens was limited to a pilot program with a cap of 1,500 participants. The recent expansion removes this cap, granting full access to all eligible Japanese applicants. Governor Green emphasized the significance of this change, stating, “This is a revolutionary step for Hawai‘i and our local travel industry.”
Japan has historically been a vital market for Hawai‘i’s tourism sector. In 2019, the state welcomed over 1.5 million visitors from Japan. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp decline, with only 24,232 Japanese visitors in 2021. Although there was a rebound to 572,979 visitors in 2022, the numbers remained below pre-pandemic levels.
The expansion of Global Entry is expected to reverse this trend by making travel more convenient for Japanese tourists. Governor Green noted that the program would “reduce airport wait times and encourage additional travel to the state of Hawai‘i, facilitating smoother visitor travel, business exchange, and arrival of returning residents of Japanese citizenship.”
The program’s benefits include no processing lines, no paperwork, reduced wait times, and access to TSA PreCheck for expedited domestic travel screening. These enhancements are anticipated to make Hawai‘i a more attractive destination for Japanese travelers, thereby strengthening the state’s tourism industry and economic relations with Japan.
As Japanese visitors increasingly utilize Global Entry, both Hawai‘i and Japan look forward to revitalized tourism and business connections, fostering mutual growth and collaboration in the coming years.
