Hawaii fears travel ban goes against welcoming aloha spirit

HONOLULU - Hawaii's white sand beaches, towering volcanoes and relaxing tropical vistas attract millions of visitors annually from around the globe. But the announcement of US President Donald Trump's revised travel ban has stoked fears that the state's main economic driver - tourism - could take a hit.

Although visitors from the affected countries are relatively few, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin has warned of a "chilling effect" that could discourage international travel to the US from all corners.

"There are already reports that due to these executive orders and travel bans, people are less inclined to travel to the United States," he said.

Hawaii is suing over the ban, saying it goes against the state's welcoming "aloha" spirit and could do long-term harm to tourism by creating a global perception that the US is an exclusionary country.

Six other states Washington, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon have filed a separate lawsuit alleging the ban is unconstitutional and hurts states' residents, businesses and educational institutions.

The Justice Department declined to comment on Hawaii's lawsuit but filed a memo in court opposing it on Monday. The agency said Trump's order does not discriminate based on religion because it applies to all individuals in the affected countries Somalia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen regardless of faith.

According to Hawaii's lawsuit, more than 6,800 people from the Middle East and 2,000 from Africa visited the state in 2015.

"You never know when the other shoe will drop and it will be hard for you to get out of the country," said Mufi Hannemann, the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association's president and CEO. "It flies in the face of the spirit of aloha, a key reason people come to Hawaii."

About 5,000 Muslims live in Hawaii, less than 1 percent of the state's population.

Soufiane Bouharkat, a 40-year-old Hawaii cafe owner, was among dozens gathered at a Honolulu mosque on Friday for prayers. He said many of his friends in Europe, where he grew up, are reluctant to visit the US.

"They're just afraid they might be stopped or questioned, and that's the last thing you want to be is questioned when you come on vacation," Bouharkat said. "So it will definitely have an impact. As small as it is, it will still be an impact that's negative."

(China Daily 03/16/2017 page11)