Hawaii Tourism: Recovery May Take Years

Above, hotels and Diamond Head in Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Hawaii's economy is primarily tourism-oriented.

The coronavirus pandemic has badly damaged that economy and, according to travel experts, it may take years to recover.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

Occupancy at Hawaii hotels plummeted to about 10% statewide for several weeks in April as COVID-19 fears and lockdowns ravaged the state’s tourist- driven economy. 

That statistic provided by the Hawaii Tourism Authority on its COVID-19 alerts page is a sneak peak to a horror show that is yet unfolding. 

Hawaii hotels statewide were at nearly 85% occupancy in February and nearly 45% occupancy in March. The decline in that industry and others has been accelerating since late January when the United States confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus. 

Hawaii confirmed its first COVID-19 case March 6, and shortly after began implementing strict stay-in-place and social distancing policies. On March 26 it became the first state to require incoming tourists to complete a mandatory 14-day self-quarantine. 

HTA reported that only 233 visitors came to Hawaii on Wednesday. From March 26 to April 30, HTA said, only 4,508 out-of-state visitors arrived. Normally, at this time of year, some 30,000 passengers would have come to Hawaii daily.

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