Public Input Requested on Draft Actions for Tourism to Support Maui’s Recovery Community Meeting to be Held at Maui Arts & Cultural Center, December 4
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) is encouraging Maui residents to provide input on proposed actions for tourism to support Maui’s recovery in 2024. The draft strategies and actions were informed by input from the Maui community and are part of HTA’s response to the Tourism Emergency Declaration by Hawai‘i State Governor Josh Green, M.D. on August 19.
HTA held a community meeting at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on December 4 and shared the proposed actions gathered from Maui residents. More than 200 people attended the meeting
in-person and on Zoom.
“We take everyone’s thoughts, concerns and suggestions seriously and will be incorporating feasible actions in this process,” said Daniel Nāho‘opi‘i, HTA’s interim president and CEO. “We thank everyone for their participation, including Councilmembers Keani Rawlins-Fernandez and Tom Cook who joined us and for their continued support.”
The following draft actions aim to support and enhance HTA’s ongoing efforts to help revitalize quality tourism in a responsible manner based on input from the Maui community, economic data, and stakeholders statewide. The actions will be guided by HTA’s Strategic Plan and community-driven Maui Nui Destination Management Action Plan.
• Increase visibility and call-to-action for travel to Hawai‘i targeting high-potential markets.
• Support businesses to continue providing a consistent message that Maui is open for mindful and respectful visitors.
• Support and encourage consistent messaging and outreach to all Maui residents and businesses.
• Support Maui small businesses that are experiencing significant reductions in sales because of the lower number of visitors on the island.
• Expand tourism product on Maui to provide new activities for visitors and support Maui businesses.
• Support providing longer-term housing for wildfire impacted households living in visitor-type accommodations by appealing to Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) owners.
Maui residents are encouraged to review the initial draft actions and provide feedback at www.smshawaii.com/hta-tourism-recovery-plan by Friday, December 15. The updated draft will be presented to the HTA Board of Directors during their upcoming board meeting on Thursday, December 21.
To learn about HTA’s Maui recovery efforts, visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/maui-recovery/.
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About the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is the state agency responsible for representing The Hawaiian Islands around the world, and for holistically managing tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with community desires, economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, and visitor industry needs. HTA works with the community and industry to Mālama Hawaiʻi – care for our beloved home. For more information about HTA, visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org or follow @HawaiiHTA on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Twitter.
For more information, contact:
T. Ilihia Gionson
Public Affairs Officer
Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
Ilihia.Gionson@gohta.net
Erin Khan
Senior Vice President, Public Relations
Anthology, A FINN Partners Company
erin.khan@finnpartners.com
