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Entry Visa Processing Likely Simplified For Newly Wed
Posted on: 2005-09-29 |
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But Korean Tour Agents are not Exactly Happy about it
The decision by the US embassy in Seoul to process some 1,200 interviews separately from Sept. 15 onward for newly weds applying for B1/B2 entry visa to visit Hawaii has triggered publicity campaigns in full swing to market Hawaii-bound honeymoon programs.
"That's not exactly a welcome development for us, though" is the general sentiment among the Korean travel agents doing business in the islands. A consequence of the 9/11 terror attacks has been a drastic reduction in the number of Korean visitors to Hawaii due to tighter restrictions on visa applications. This in turn has reduced the number of flights by Korean Air carrying passengers from Inchon to Honolulu, thus making it more difficult for local tour agencies to reserve seats. Further aggravating their situation has been the ongoing price hike of oil worldwide, on account of which many Koreans have decided not to visit Hawaii. To make things worse yet, Hawaii's in-state tourism has been thriving. This, in cohort with the overheated real estate industry, has induced many existing hotels to switch to the "condotel" mode of operation, slashing number of accommodations available for visitors and thus making an already bad situation worse. The local Korean travel agencies are thus confronted with the worst post-IMF crisis.
Therefore, contrary to the widespread belief that the prospect of simplified visa processing by the US embassy would be mean a boost for the Korean travel agencies, the actual reaction from those savvy about their reality has been one of "Well, not exactly." As one member of the Korean Tourist Association of Hawaii noted, "The relaxed requirements on visa application for Hawaii-bound honeymooners will probably benefit the state's economy as it attracts more people to spend money here, we in the travel business aren't so sure if the new measure could turn things to our advantage."
How come? One answer is this: "Before the US embassy announced its decision to simplify the process of issuing visas, certain travel agencies in Korea had already signed contracts with some of the local hotels here to pre-empty the FIT market of Hawaii. So, once the honeymoon products in Korea get going and the local hotels here start doing business directly with the Korean agencies, I don't see much benefit coming to us."
In other words, only a few Korean travel agencies have entered agreements with local hotels and so those that haven't are having a hard time securing rooms. Now if, under these circumstances, the direct link between Hawaii hotels and Korean agencies becomes a reality, there will far less space for the Hawaii-based Korean tourist firms to maneuver.
"But listen," said another person associated with the local Korean travel industry rather optimistically. "The tangible effects of the simplified measure that took effect as of Sept. 15 will begin to manifest themselves in November this year. Now, although the triple problem marked by the shortage of passenger seats, the soaring cost of direct Hawaii-Korea airfares, and the diminishing number of hotel rooms here certainly presents a tough challenge for us. The impact of Hurricane Katrina may be such that man of the mainlanders cannot afford to come to Hawaii. Which means that the timing of the new visa policy could actually work in our favor, creating niches that we could tap into."
[Photo: Comedian Jisun Kim and her groom who made a honeymoon trip to Hawaii in May of 2003. This is part of the publicity campaign being waged by Hawaii Visitors Bureau in Korea to sell Hawaii as a honeymoon destination.] |
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