Reporter : Zhang Ting / Editor : Lin Yan / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/24/2/19/n14184659.htm / Image : Four Seasons Resort Maui is a luxury resort located in the Wailea area on the west coast of Maui, Hawaii. (Shutterstock)
Hawaii in the United States is a world-renowned tourist hotspot, and its beautiful tropical scenery attracts millions of tourists from around the world every year. There's a good chance tourists will encounter a fee on their next trip, though, as the state of Hawaii is pushing to charge visitors extra.
In his 2024 State of the State address, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green proposed charging all visitors a $25 fee to arrive and stay in a hotel or short-term rental, saying the "modest fee" would bring in $6,800 million in revenue a year.
"We will invest these funds in beach protection, fire protection and other prevention measures to help us avoid tragedies like last year's tragedy in Maui," Green said.
The catastrophic scenes of Maui’s wildfires last year shocked the world. More than 100 people have died in wildfires. Maui is currently recovering from the disaster and needs tourists to boost its economy. Visitor numbers and visitor spending have both declined in recent months compared with 2022, according to a report from the state of Hawaii.
Governor Green said of the $25 fee proposal, “I believe it is not excessive for visitors to our islands…Hawaii’s natural environmental resources – our beaches, forests and waterfalls – are an integral part of our culture. and an important part of the lifestyle.”
The governor said he was "open to other proposals that would achieve the same goals," such as an increase in the temporary lodging tax, in lieu of that fee. Hawaii has one of the highest tourist taxes in the world; for example, a stay in Honolulu is subject to a 10.25% temporary lodging tax.
Hawaii received more than 9.5 million visitors last year.
The proposed $25 flat fee is currently being discussed in the state Legislature and could be approved this spring, The Wall Street Journal reported. By then, Hawaii will become the latest destination to impose a tax on tourists.
Some in Hawaii's tourism industry say the current proposal could further burden some businesses and force them to change their accounting systems. These businesses are still trying to recover after the wildfires. Others say visitors would be more receptive to fees that directly benefit state parks and beaches. Few think the fees will deter tourists from visiting Hawaii.
Countries such as Greece and New Zealand now charge tourists so-called climate taxes, ranging from more than $1 to $100. This month, the Indonesian island of Bali began charging all foreign visitors a $10 fee to promote more sustainable tourism. Starting this spring, Venice will trial a long-discussed ticket purchase system to enter the city, and day-trippers will pay a fee of 5 euros to prevent overtourism.
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