Since the destructive Maoi is close to the second anniversary of the wildfire, it is developing an unprecedented move to cover the cost of climate change – and it is targeting a tourist wallet.
According to Bloomberg, from January 1, 2026, 10 million annual visitors to the Alwaha State will face a slight higher price: a new “green fee”, which has increased Hawaii tourism tax from 10.25 % to 11 %. Additional Payment-Each Visitor’s average of an annual million Million is expected to be 100 million from each visitor, all of which will be directly operated from coral reef restoration to fire prevention projects, in direct environmental recovery and climate reduction efforts.
The champion through Governor Josh Green, the bill, has the first dedicated climate fee in the United States. After its approval, after years of obstacles in the legislature, but the fire in 2023, which caused a loss of more than $ 5.5 billion, provoked public support.
According to Bloomberg, Green said, “These fires have awakened our state.” “The fact (that’s) we have a method to reduce the risk and prepare potential disasters in the future.”
Hawaii’s approach contradicts ordinary tourist taxes that often fund infrastructure or marketing. Instead, the new levy travels in the center of the Travel Economics, which is a part of the growing global trend, including destinations like Venus and Bhutan, where tourism fees are rapidly used as a protection and crowded control tools.
The Green project also includes the phase of the Air Tourism Authority, replacing the organization of the non -profit destination organization, which aims to prefer the community’s involvement in local values, stability, and massive market advertising.
While some tourists have resisted what they are calling “surf tax”, the move has received widespread support from the air hospitality sector.
“The visitor’s industry relys on the natural environment of Hawaii, and we are not working enough to protect it,” Carl Bonam, a economist at the University of Hawaii, told Bloomberg. “The bill had significant support from the hotel industry, as the money is being re -investigated in something that is going to protect the tourism industry.”
Nevertheless, concerns remain. Critics fear that keeping new fees above current permits and reservations can eliminate local costs, a wider problem echoing in other places responding to increasing overtime through taxes and regulations. In some of tourist destinations like Paris, Barcelona and London, it is unclear if travel rules are also meeting their desired goals.
Nevertheless, Governor Green believes that Hawaii’s green fee can offer a roadmap for other US states, which is facing rising climate costs.
He told Bloomberg, “This is probably different for everyone, but I expect elsewhere…. Some versions will do it.”
If air tourism is able to tie up with a long -term environmental responsibility, it can set a new standard of gold for a responsible journey during the climate age.
