Hawaiian officials ask tourists return He came to the island after deadly wildfires earlier this month and said staying away now would do more harm than good to the battered economy.
“Because people thought the whole island was shut down, furloughs and layoffs started. That’s not the case.” Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) tweet Thursday night.
“If you want to come to Hawaii (please) consider South Maui,” he continued.
Maui update. South Maui resorts (Lahaina is West Maui) need tourists. Because people thought the whole island was shut down, furloughs and layoffs started. It is not. If you are planning a trip to Wailea or Kihei, please do not cancel. If you’re thinking of coming to Hawaii, consider South Maui.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) August 24, 2023
Scutz’s plea echoed comments made earlier this week by the state’s Gov. Josh Green.
“All other areas of Maui … and the rest of Hawaii are safe,” Green said. monday said. The governor issued an appeal to potential tourists, saying “you will support our local economy and help speed the recovery of those who are currently suffering.”
West Maui remains closed to travel.
National information on tourism mixed Since the fire swept through western Maui earlier this month. On Aug. 9, Greene encouraged tourists to stop non-essential travel to Maui immediately. A few days later, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said the island was “not closed” and that “many of our residents make their living from tourism.”
The fire death toll currently stands at 115, but more than 1,000 people are still missing.
Thursday, Maui Country accuse The Hawaiian Electric Company, which is responsible for the wildfires, claimed the utility kept power lines energized despite high wind warnings. “We are extremely disappointed that Maui County has chosen this path of litigation while the investigation is still ongoing,” the company said in a statement Thursday.
cancel your trip
Wildfires reignite debate over ‘overtourism’ in Hawaii residents frustrated How tourism puts pressure on local communities and distorts economies.
“Maui is not a place to vacation right now,” wrote Hawaiian actor Jason Momoa posted photos on Instagram shortly after the fire. “Don’t travel,” he warned.
On Aug. 14, The Pokémon Company announced that it will host the next Pokémon World Championship, a tournament featuring video games and trading cards from the series, in Honolulu next year.
announce destination now #Pokemon World 2024…
Honolulu! pic.twitter.com/2VTDncr8Ot
— Playing Pokémon (@playpokemon) August 13, 2023
users on social media criticize the announcement Days after the bushfires, he believed the decision to host the race would put too much pressure on the country.
Shortly after announcing the tournament location, The Pokémon Company said it was working on a “immediate” Donated $200,000 to Hawaii disaster relief efforts.
overtourism
hawaii attraction 9.2 million visitors By 2022, visitor numbers will approach the 10.4 million recorded in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel).
According to a survey, 67% of Hawaii residents have a favorable opinion of tourism. July survey Hawai’i Tourism’s approval rating is well below the 90 percent approval rating it had nearly a decade ago. Roughly the same percentage agreed with the statement that Hawaii “attracts tourists at the expense of locals.”
Still, tourism accounts for about a quarter of National economy.This is even more important for Maui, where tourism contributes as much as four out of five dollars Estimated cost by Maui Economic Development Council.
In fact, economists at the University of Hawaii at may forecast A resilient tourism industry can help shield the state from economic woes in other parts of the country.
“It’s really American tourists who helped us out of the pandemic,” economist Peter Fuleky reportedly told reporters in May. Honolulu Folk Beat.
Hawaii isn’t the only place rethinking its reliance on mass tourism.
many popular destinations Use the tourist disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to examine how to reduce the disruption caused by tourism and perhaps attract higher-value tourists.
For example, the person in charge of tourism in Bali told reporters that Bali will start charging foreign tourists with an entrance fee of US$10 in February next year. Bloomberg.The Indonesian island nation is also more aggressive deport Tourists and misbehaving tourists.
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