Hawaii’s Big Island to get extra tourism funding
The Hawaii Tourism Authority will allocate an additional $2.5 million funding for the Big Island to help boost its post-eruption recovery.
It is now more than six months since the Kilauea volcano stopped erupting but the island is suffering economically with tourist numbers yet to reach pre-eruption levels.
The funding will target mainland US and Japan markets and tap travel professionals to help boost visitor arrivals.
In the first two months of 2019 tourist arrivals and spending were down more than 10% compared to last year.
"With this new marketing campaign, our goals are to help reverse this continuing decline and emphasize to travelers the positive message about the abundance and diversity of attractions, activities, and sites," said HTA CEO Chris Tatum.
Concerns about damaged infrastructure and continuing poor air quality, as well as increasing hotel room rates has kept visitors away.
The lack of tourists is affecting the job market with unemployment claims surging by more than 50% last month on the Big Island.
State lawmakers also approved a $60 million funding package for areas in Puna which were hardest hit during the eruption.
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