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☆ Hawaii calls for tourists to visit Maui as unemployment claims surge after deadly wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Supplies for Lahaina fire victims are gathered and delivered by Hawaiians sailing on a large catamaran who often sail around the world together to Lahaina neighborhoods. Officials in Hawaii are encouraging tourists to visit Maui to help support the economy as unemployment claims surge on the island in the wake of deadly wildfires in the western region. But the governor and the Hawaii Tourism Authority are encouraging tourists to visit all other areas of Maui to help support a local economy that is suffering in the wake of the blaze. Sen. Brian Schatz said furloughs and layoffs are starting to pick up because people think the whole island is closed. Unemployment claims in Maui have skyrocketed from 130 shortly before the blaze to 4,449 as of last week, according to data from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Persons: Josh Green's, Sen, Brian Schatz, furloughs Organizations: Gov, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, Maui, West Maui

The industry is Maui's "economic engine," generating 80% of its wealth, according to the island's economic development board. Hotels in West Maui have temporarily stopped accepting bookings. Many are housing their employees and preparing to house evacuees and first-responders working on disaster recovery, according to the tourism authority. "Maui is not closed," Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said at the weekend press conference alongside the governor. Tour operators who continued to offer services in or around West Maui after the fires faced a flood of criticism.

Persons: Mike Blake, Jason Momoa, Maui, Josh Green, Green, Ilihia Gionson, Richard Bissen, Jack Richards, Rich McKay, Doyinsola Oladipo, Julia Harte, Colleen Jenkins, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism, U.S . Census, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hotels, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Los, Thomson Locations: Wahikuli, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, West Maui, Maui County, Wailea, South Maui, Los Angeles

☆ How tourism destinations come back from natural disasters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Rich Harrill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The following Q&A with University of South Carolina research professor Rich Harrill, an expert on hospitality and tourism, looks at what’s happened in Hawaii and how other tourism destinations have bounced back from natural disasters. Compared with other destinations, Hawaii is very reliant on tourism – it comprises about 25% of the state’s economy. Maui County has the state’s highest reliance on tourism, with 51% of its jobs falling into sectors directly associated with tourism. This is a process that’s led by groups known in the travel industry as destination marketing and management organizations. Working with their local destination marketing organization, local governments should make decisions carefully about inviting visitors back.

Persons: Rich Harrill, Patrick T, Fallon, who’s, Hurricane Katrina, Iniki Organizations: CNN, University of South, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Tourism, Kahului, Getty, Hurricane Locations: Maui, Lahaina, University of South Carolina, Hawaii, Maui County, Kahului, AFP, New Orleans, Kauai

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