Tropical weather, pristine beaches and serene waters — Hawaii is one of the preferred beach destinations for holidays. And why not? The place is blessed with a rich heritage, culture, flora and fauna. Not to forget the innumerable sports activities that you can try here. With natural scenery, an abundance of public beaches, oceanic surroundings and a warm tropical climate, this place attracts a large number of tourists every year. This has led the government to take measures in order to tackle the rising number of tourists. Apparently, Hawaii will be imposing a tourist tax or ‘green fee’ that will surely increase your travel budget.
Tourist Tax Or Green Fee in Hawaii
Did you have plans of visiting Hawaii and exploring its beautiful surroundings? Well, you can still go there but you may have to increase your budget. Why? There is no doubt that Hawaii is a popular tourist destination and hosts a large number of tourists every year. To tackle this rising population of visitors, the government is planning to add a tourist tax — or a green fee of $50(₹4121 approx). This tax is aimed to protect the island’s natural resources and spaces like beaches and to restrain over-tourism.
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Hawaii Governor’s Take On This Tax
Hawaii Governor Josh Green stated that the island hosts around ten million tourists per year and witnesses their impact on its natural spaces. This issue, along with others, had been discussed in the legislature. According to him, this tax will help generate revenue and mitigate the impact on the island. He even promoted a climate impact fee during his campaign.
According to the reports, Hawaii’s state legislature has passed the Hawaii Green Fee — which is $50 per tourist above the age of fifteen. The government has a goal of generating around $400-500 million annually.
It is no surprise that a small place like Hawaii which is surrounded by water has to face a lot of damage when it comes to tourism. And being one of the most expensive places to live in the United States Of America, Hawaii is certainly looking forward to generating revenue from tourism. Since the place is surrounded by water, the cost of any commodity is added with a huge transportation cost.
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So, if you are planning to travel to Hawaii, make sure you have increased your travel budget.
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