The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-19
JAPAN TAKES
NOTE OF HAWAII

The value Of advertising the attrac-
lions of a country to the ever increas-
ing class Of Americans known as
tourists is coming to be recognized in
Japan, and it seems probable that be-
fore long this country will be effectu-
ally adding its weight persuasion 20
that of Hawaii, Manila. Australia and
Java, in the effort to stimulate travel
in the Pacific. The fact that all couu-
tries in the Pacific have a common
interest in this matter, H. p. wooG.
of the Hawaii Promotion Committee,
points out, should make possible a
very close alliance in carrying on this
work.
The following from the Japan AID.
vertiser refers to the methods of
Hawaii in general publicity, and indi.
Gates that Japan is awaking to the
tremendous value of the tourist busi-
ness:
There go annually to Europe holi-
dial bent over hundred thousand
Americans. Switzerland alone prac-
tically lives upon the tourist traffic,
and Europe for six months of the
year is the home of thousands of
Americans who cross the Atlantic
ocean largely because others do, ana
whose steps might with proper in
ducement be turned westward instead
OF eastward. The world of Europe
has It's quaint peoples and it's mag
nificent art and architecture. but so
has the East it's glorie,s and its treas
ures that should be SEEN To divert
only small part of the huge annual
traffic from Europe to Japan will be a
great business achievement. The
idea is not a new one, but the sub.
ject is suggested by a wireless mes
sage sent by Mr.. Lindsay Russell
from the Shinyo Maru who points out
that if Americans were better In.
formed of the conditions of travel to
the Far East and their minds disa-
bused of certain prejudices regarding
the safety of travel in the countries
OF the Orient, much of the travel anc
wealth which annually go to Europe
would come to Japan. In the last few
years Japan has received continuous
through the instrument
tality Of the American tourist traffic
alone. This country is already recog.
nized, though not by any means gen.
orally, as a country worth coming
thousands of miles to see, a country
of quaint and interesting people, Of
beautiful scenery, and possessing many
charming attractions which can only
be sub-consciously felt and cannot be
described. To turn this natural at
traction into a valuable commercial
asset is of course not a very high
aim, and we know that there are
many japanese who are strongly OPP
posed to the idea of making their
country mere tourist resort. But
here We have only to do with the
financial aspect of things, and in this
way practical men of today, like Mr..
Lindsay Reed, look upon most things.
The practice of widely advertising
the attractions OF countries prevails
all over the world, and nearer home
we have the examples of Manila and
Hawaii, where the merchants have
organized systematic publicity depart
ments, which are devoted exclusively
to advertising the beauties of the
land and doing all they can to bring
the tourists thither. There has never
been established an organization aim
ing at the systematic advertising OF
Japan, although individual firms are
doing this on a limited scale, but tbs
need for such campaign seems to
grow with the passing years, and its
possibilities as a moneymaker are
simply illimitable."