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There is immense pressure to reopen - I predict things will move fairly quickly - and stay at home will lift May 31. Quarantine is the tougher one - when they lift it - I'm somewhere, probably Vegas....
Others, like my boss - have told me they have no intention to set foot on a plane this year.
If you're eager to gamble, some Washington state casinos on reservations are opening up now.
Your wish shall be granted for a long time - which shall have devastating impacts on the local economy and the local population who rely on tourism.
The argument of fewer tourists doesn't resonate well with those whose livelihood depend on those tourists. The math quite frankly doesn't work with fewer tourists who spend more money - you need a high volume of tourists - not dollars to thrive. Can you imagine being a worker at a tour company, restaurant, hotel maid, being told - you know - since we've got fewer tourists spending more - we don't need your services anymore.
It is the volume of tourists that keeps the economy of Hawaii moving and people employed. Less tourists - less employed regardless of dollars.
Also, given we are experiencing nearly 40% unemployment - this notion of tourists are bad for locals is a false premise given so many are dependent on them. Sure, if you are not in a tourism dependent industry you may have a disdain for tourists - your neighbor maybe not so much.
As our housing prices decline - and businesses go out of business - the wish of less tourists may not be such a good wish
You certainly took my quote out of context or maybe misunderstood. Obviously right now or the near future, fewer tourists isn't a good thing. But long term or when things go to "normal"? Maybe. In the past 20yrs, tourist has gone up 50%, tourism related jobs have stayed nearly flat, unemployment hasn't budged significantly, but average daily per tourist spending has gone down. I doubt many are dismissing those decrease in dollars spent. Dollars matter too. Lanai has increased tourist spending, decreased numbers and the lowest unemployment of any island. Just because there's less tourists doesn't mean employees can't be re-deployed. More presence, better service, etc. If we're worried about hotel workers then we can shore up the millions of visitors who stay at condos, timeshares, hostels, campsite, etc. I'm not sure how much they contribute to the economy. However, I admit that we can't keep tourist numbers the same for years and continue to increase prices, that can only go so far and that's the problem with tourism economy, but at the very least we should get a better handle on it and more efficiency so that we don't have to increase it so much just to keep up. But if we want to be real here, it's not about visitor numbers but their impact. If tourists were constrained to Waikiki, I'm sure many locals would sing a different tune.
Dollars matter too. Lanai has increased tourist spending, decreased numbers and the lowest unemployment of any island.
Lanai is an outlier with two Four Seasons resorts charging $1,000/night. It also has a population of 3,100
Yes, dollars matter. Although daily spending by visitors was roughly $166 in 2002 versus $198 in 2017 (and a lot more of them).
Visitor spending numbers are also skewed by lodging. There was no AirBnb in 2002. Enforce the bans on AirBnb - force practically all visitors into hotels - and you'll see spending dramatically go up.
If you're eager to gamble, some Washington state casinos on reservations are opening up now.
Nothing against Washington State - but not that eager. I've been to the one in Snoqualmie (scenic - nice casino - go check out the falls) and Tacoma (very crowded otherwise not a great area). I've popped in when it coincides with work.
I’ve never been a big proponent of ever expanding tourist numbers. I feel it is a curve, like most things. Given the size of the island, it’s resources and infrastructure, and balancing with livability for residents and protecting the look and feel of the community, there is a point at which the curve starts to turn and more tourists start dragging down livability and even dragging down the desirability of the location as a tourist destination. I think prior to Covid, Oahu was at that peak point or starting to hit the downward side of the curve in my opinion.
However, with that said, number of tourists, more broadly benefits the local economy that just a high $ spent per tourist. The lower spending tourists in higher numbers still require lodging and food and that spreads the dollars spent out to a greater range of businesses and those businesses then employ people and it ripples out. Just a few high $ spenders simply spend more money per day but in far fewer places and the expanding component of visitor spending is not as broad as it is with more lower $ tourists.
Another botched announcement - after Ige yesterday said retail stores can open Thursday - Now it is May 15 for Oahu - no date for Maui - but will open on Kauai and Big Island
Another botched announcement - after Ige yesterday said retail stores can open Thursday - Now it is May 15 for Oahu - no date for Maui - but will open on Kauai and Big Island
Yesterday, Kirk Caldwell sounded disappointed at the Ige announcement. Caldwell appeared to want to wait longer on an opening. I suspect there was some later 'arm-twisting' after Ige's initial announcement, and Caldwell got his way. I still haven't been able to find a reliable stat on rates of transmission. The Dept of Health, State and county (Oahu, at least.) government seems like a black-hole when it comes to providing relevant info.
Yesterday, Kirk Caldwell sounded disappointed at the Ige announcement. Caldwell appeared to want to wait longer on an opening. I suspect there was some later 'arm-twisting' after Ige's initial announcement, and Caldwell got his way. I still haven't been able to find a reliable stat on rates of transmission. The Dept of Health, State and county (Oahu, at least.) government seems like a black-hole when it comes to providing relevant info.
I would be happy if they would reopen the beaches for sitting. With few tourists, social distancing should be achievable.
Lanai is an outlier with two Four Seasons resorts charging $1,000/night. It also has a population of 3,100
Yes, dollars matter. Although daily spending by visitors was roughly $166 in 2002 versus $198 in 2017 (and a lot more of them).
Visitor spending numbers are also skewed by lodging. There was no AirBnb in 2002. Enforce the bans on AirBnb - force practically all visitors into hotels - and you'll see spending dramatically go up.
Yes, the spending increase is largely due to the increase in the four seasons pricing, point being increasing visitors costs can drive down volume, but not necessarily affect employment. Not that we have to go that extreme but some lessons can be learned.
$166 in 2002 is $223 in 2017 dollars.
Lodging certainly makes a difference. Airbnb, vacation homes, timeshares, etc. It's not clear how much those contribute to the local economy vs hotels. Nevermind the type of traveler that uses it and how they spend money elsewhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WaikikiBoy
However, with that said, number of tourists, more broadly benefits the local economy that just a high $ spent per tourist. The lower spending tourists in higher numbers still require lodging and food and that spreads the dollars spent out to a greater range of businesses and those businesses then employ people and it ripples out. Just a few high $ spenders simply spend more money per day but in far fewer places and the expanding component of visitor spending is not as broad as it is with more lower $ tourists.
I lean more towards spending is spending. More dollars in fewer pockets can still have a ripple or 'trickle down' effect. But also overall spending can increase by offering new activities or experiences to spend on, tacking on fees, etc. or forcing tourists into spending (ex. hotels instead of airbnbs). Consider also "low" spenders may not be spending much period, doing a hostel, airbnb, timeshare, costco, free activities, but they are still a physical impact.
I think most would agree we were at or beyond peak tourism. But I also think it's not so much the total visitors but their pervasiveness in recent years that's starting to bother locals.
But I also think it's not so much the total visitors but their pervasiveness in recent years that's starting to bother locals.
Tourists have never bothered me - are that many people really that hot and bothered by them? Given how Hawaii has now learned a hard lesson that our survival is dependent on them - maybe attitudes will change.
I do think people, including myself, were hot and bothered by the pervasive AirBnb's. When you live in San Francisco, a local resident doesn't typically ever go to Fisherman's Wharf unless dragged there by a visiting friend - here, I like to go to Waikiki.....
With hotels on Waikiki previously running 90%+ occupancy all year round - we were at the peak of tourism except for those still breaking vacation rental laws.
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