Maui, the second biggest Hawaiian island, has recently received more tourists than it can handle. To deal with the problem, local leaders are considering tourism caps.
The island has been popular among tourists for decades, but it’s seen a huge influx since lifting COVID-19 restrictions. More people than ever are eager to travel after the pandemic prevented them from doing so.
Though tourists often bolster the economies of places they visit, massive amounts of them can also cause problems. Here are the primary issues Hawaiians hope to curb with tourism caps:
- Traffic congestion
- Water shortages
- Spiking food prices and housing costs
Visitors can inadvertently raise housing prices by booking private rentals and Airbnbs, which takes money from hotels while reducing housing access for locals.
Some Hawaiian islands have already altered policies to deal with excessive tourism.
The island’s city council passed a proposal to cap how many tourists visit. The proposal would also ban short-term camper vans.
The proposal hasn’t yet become law, but some version of it is likely to pass.
Some Hawaiian islands have already altered policies to deal with excessive tourism. Travelers must now make reservations to visit numerous attractions, including the following:
- Diamond State Monument
- Haleakala National Park
- Haena State Park
Hawaii’s tourism bureau has stated that requiring reservations has improved visitors’ experiences while relieving the strain tourism places on communities.
Honolulu City Council recently passed a bill to disallow travelers from renting in residential neighborhoods for fewer than three months.