So few tourists are coming to the Hawaiian island of Maui after last month's wildfires that restaurants and tour companies are laying off workers and unemployment is surging.
State tourism officials initially urged travelers to stay away but now want them to come back so long as they refrain from going to the burn zone and surrounding area. – Richie Olsten has been in Maui's helicopter tour business for a half century, so long he's developed a barometer for the tourism-dependent economy: rental cars parked at the island's airport.in the historic town of Lahaina that Olsten is worried about a full-blown economic catastrophe.
Even those in South Maui, 30 miles south of Lahaina, are half empty. Hannemann called the situation “pretty grim.” “It takes a lot of soul-searching of what’s the right thing to do to protect that place,” said Swain, who plans to hire everyone back. He aims to reopen next month. Clothing designer Gemma Alvior estimates that locals make up almost all the clientele at her Kahului store, Pulelehua Boutique. But that may not shield her in a place where the tourism industry accounts for 75% of private sector jobs.
The day after the fire, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, a quasi-state agency, said visitors on “non-essential travel are being asked to leave Maui” and that"non-essential travel to Maui is strongly discouraged."Around the world, people saw video and photos of travelers jamming the Kahului airport to board flights out.“Maui’s not closed,” Mayor Richard Bissen said in a recent interview.
Travel to areas outside West Maui should return to pre-fire levels by Thanksgiving, predicted Carl Bonham, an economics professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Discounted airfares and marketing appeals should help, he said.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Hawaiian Airlines parent tempers outlook on Maui wildfire, engine issues By ReutersHawaiian Airlines parent tempers outlook on Maui wildfire, engine issues
Weiterlesen »
Ukraine War Costs More in One Day than Biden Is Sending to MauiThe largely U.S.-funded war in Ukraine costs approximately $100 million a day -- more than the $95 million President Joe Biden wants to send to Maui after the most fatal fire in the nation's history in over a century.
Weiterlesen »
Oprah and The Rock face backlash for asking fans to donate money toward Maui firesThe Hollywood duo donated $10 million, collectively, to kick off the fund, but jointly asked their fans to donate the rest – but many complained they were already living “paycheck-to-pa…
Weiterlesen »
Latest out of Maui: The recovery, rebuilding begins after deadly wildfiresThe rebuilding process has begun across Maui, following the devastating wildfires that killed at least 115 people and displaced thousands more.
Weiterlesen »
Maui's message to tourists: Don't stay away after wildfiresOne month after wildfires in Hawai'i ravaged the entire town of Lahaina and other parts of Maui, the local community is suffering a fresh layer of ...
Weiterlesen »
Family of woman killed in Maui fire sues state and county, alleging negligenceThe lawsuit, which also names Hawaii's largest landowner as a defendant, claims the three did not maintain undeveloped properties.
Weiterlesen »