The suspect in an acid attack against a Chinese visitor in Hawaii appeared in court Monday and will be back in court Wednesday. Sebastian Mahkwan has been charged with attempted murder and assault charges.
The attack also generated negative publicity in China, which used to play an important part in Hawaii's tourism industry.
Prior to COVID visitors from China were substantial and contributed to the economy. The number of tourists from China reached a peak in 2015, when more than 165,000 arrived in the islands.
In 2022, Chinese visitors spent, on average, $341 a day - the highest of all visitors. Well over spending by Japanese tourists at $235 and US west coast visitors at $221.
Spending levels are back up to where they were before the COVID pandemic. But Chinese visitor arrivals are not.
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