Does Hawaii want tourists after fire?

Does Hawaii want tourists after fire? Hawaii public officials want tourists back after the horrible wildfire as soon as possible, but airlines and tour operators know that it takes time for local communities to heal. Maui's tourism recovery has been moving at a sluggish pace since the wildfires devastated the island's western region in early August.

Is tourism down on Maui 2023?

In August 2023, visitor arrivals to Oahu (507,702 visitors, +11.0%), Hawaii Island (152,951, +4.1%) and Kauai (131,628 visitors, +9.0%) increased while visitor arrivals to Maui (112,259 visitors, -57.8%) dropped significantly compared to August 2022.

Have tourists returned to Maui?

Tourists were officially welcomed back to West Maui on Sunday, exactly two months after devastating wildfires displaced thousands of residents, killed 98 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings. Historic Lahaina Town – once the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom – was, and is still, unrecognizable.

Is Hawaii safe travels ending?

The Safe Travels platform went offline on March 26, 2022, the existing data will be secured, encrypted and stored off-line in a safe manner. After three years, the data will be destroyed.

Do Hawaiian locals ask tourists to stop coming?

Some locals, many of them of Native Hawaiian descent, have gone so far as to argue that travelers should cross Hawaii off of their future itineraries for good. Tourism is seen as one of several factors that allowed the Maui fire to become so deadly.

Is Maui still in fire?

Lahaina fire: Remains 90% contained. Estimated 2,170 acres.

Do Maui residents want tourists to stay away?

Maui residents have remained consistent that visitors should avoid all of West Maui, which continues to be a hub for displaced families. Hotels there are housing more than 5,000 people who are not tourists, including families who lost homes, government relief officials, aid organizations and cleanup crews.

Does Maui want tourists after fire?

In the days following the deadly wildfires, many Hawaiians told tourists to stay away. But a month later, officials are asking people to return responsibly.

Can Maui survive without tourism?

Whether you like it or not, tourism is the main engine of our economy here on Maui. During COVID, we had lofty utopian thoughts of diversifying away from tourism, but it hasn't happened and would take far too long for our residents to survive financially.

How many confirmed dead in Maui?

Confirmed deaths: 98 8, becoming the country's deadliest wildfire in more than 100 years. Locating remains and identifying victims has been a difficult process.

Is it safe to go to Honolulu now?

The HTA added: “Currently, travel is still welcomed to the island of Hawaii. Visitors are encouraged to contact their hotel accommodations provider and airlines for updates that could affect their stay on island.”

Is Hawaii overcrowded with tourists?

It reached a boiling point in 2019, when Hawaii's 1.5 million residents watched it become a case study in overtourism amid 10.4 million annual arrivals.

How much of Maui is destroyed?

Lahaina bore the brunt of the flames and the historic town was completely destroyed. With 2,170 acres burned, the Lahaina fire is about 90% contained, according to the release.

Is Hawaii still struggling with tourism?

Is Hawaii still struggling with tourism? The state's tourism board is on the brink of collapse — along with its helpful policies on managing foot traffic to Hawaii's most beautiful and sacred sites. Tourist arrivals in Hawaii are near pre-pandemic levels as the industry works to manage the impact.

Is Hawaii tourism back to normal?

While the pandemic pummeled Hawaii in its early stages, the Aloha State's tourism industry is back, and by some metrics, bigger than ever. The number of tourists from the U.S. mainland is higher than it was before the pandemic — and average spending per trip is also higher.

What is the tourist arrival forecast for 2023?

ITA's National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) forecasts the total volume of international visitation to the United States to increase to 62.8 million in 2023, up 11 million, or 21.2%, from a total 51.8 million visitors in 2022.

Is it ethical to travel to Hawaii 2023?

Here's why. Fodor's Travel named Maui one of 10 destinations on its 2023 “No List” that tourists should reconsider visiting this year. The travel publication outlined 10 regions ranging from Antarctica to Italy that are threatened by environmental damage caused by overtourism and climate change.