Already one of the most expensive places to visit in the U.S., the Hawaiian Islands state wants it to cost even more, to limit visits only to the wealthiest:
- The program would go into effect on July 1, 2025.
- Hawaii residents would be exempt; they must have filed or paid state income taxes for the previous year or be able to provide evidence of their address via documents such as a state driver’s license.
- The bill, if enacted, would follow similar models implemented in other popular travel destinations, including Venice, Italy, New Zealand and Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
Source: Hawaii weighs tourism fee amid worsening environmental damage
Hawaii is rapidly becoming unaffordable to all but the most wealthy.
The State also has an effective 18% occupancy tax on accommodations and has increased the tax on rental cars to $8/day. Honolulu has banned short term rentals (AirBnb). The state is planning to raise the hotel accommodation tax to 33% on all non-hotel short term rentals (but many say this is unconstitutional due to its selective application).
Tourism accounts for 21% of the state’s economy in a state that is one of the lowest in the U.S. for personal income and other economic sector. Hawaii also has among the highest cost of living of all 50 states.