Hawaii Tourism Association to attend Moscow travel fair

This is the first year Hawaii will be attending a tourism trade show in Russia. “You find us in Hall 1, Stand 1C503, under our local representative Russia Hawaii Tours, Inc.,” HiTA founder and president Juergen Thomas Steinmetz said.

HiTA will be represented by Moscow and Hawaii based tour operator Russia - Hawaii Tours. Russia Hawaii Tours is servicing Russian-speaking tourists to Hawaii from around the world. Steinmetz said:“They were established in 1996 and provide ground services in Hawaii. They provide group or individual services. Their tour van with the Hawaii license plate ‘RUSSIA’ is known all over Oahu.”

Russia Hawaii Tours’ slogan states, “You haven’t seen Hawaii until you’ve seen it with us at Russia Hawaii Tours.”

He added, the vast majority of their clients find them through Russian travel agents from around the world. “They sell both to the trade and travelers, and they take pride in the quality of services that they offer.”

According to Mr. Steinmetz, participating with Hawaii will also be Saipan-based Pacific Island Club (PIC) resort.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow and their Commercial Services Department will be assisting.

HiTA's president Juergen Thomas Steinmetz is also chair of the tourism committee for the Hawaii Pacific Export Council, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Hawaii-Pacific region includes Hawaii, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. International tourism arrival to the U.S. is considered an export. Tourism is the largest export industry in Hawaii and the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Hawaii Tourism Association will be attending a major travel trade show in Delhi and Bombay in February. In March HiTA will go on a roadshow in Germany, and in April a roadshow to important secondary markets in the western U.S. is on HiTA's agenda.