French Polynesia

How Other Island Destinations Are Handling Tourism Now

While Hawaii tourism is closed, these island destinations are open and could provide insight if anyone is listening.

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48 thoughts on “How Other Island Destinations Are Handling Tourism Now”

  1. I just clicked on the testing site for Tahiti and wow amazing!!! It clearly shows a link to click for Air Tahiti travel testing, and then has links that you click for your exact day of departure so you are testing in the right pre time frame! It shows testing dates for 10 days out. That is exactly what Hawaii should have done. Seriously thinking Tahiti could be the replacement for my September 3rd Maui trip that will likely be cancelled.

    1. Just FYI, I believe that if you travel outside the US, you will be required to quar antine for 14 days upon your return home.

  2. We are currently in the US Virgin Islands, since our trip to the Big Island was cancelled (it would have been 12th visit to Hawaii). Here they are talking about beginning to require pre-arrival testing, and the governor actually announced it on about July 2nd, but didn’t implement it. Afraid that they would require testing, we got tested through CVS. The results didn’t come until 13 days later! I don’t know how that could work for Hawaii.

  3. I’ve always said I lived in a third world county. I was wrong; I live in a fourth world country…Very discouraging.

    1. I hope you are commenting at a low point in your life. The U.S. is definitely not a third- or fourth-world country. I count my blessings every day that I am fortunate to be a resident. Savor the good that is around you.

  4. Actually, this article points out that most islands are requiring stricter testing requirements (negative PCR both before and during stay)than that earlier proposed by Hawaii. Costs vary, but are close to the estimated cost from Hawaii’s test requirement. I have skin in this game as I run a vacation rental business, but realize that if Hawaii becomes the next FL, TX, AZ, CA, etc., my business will suffer for a longer period than waiting until the mainland can get its act together.

  5. We were supposed to be in Maui this week. Changed our flights and accommodations to St. Thomas. Temp checks and masks at restaurants. Beaches are closing at 4pm and everyone is social distancing. Seems like Gov Igo has a plan to hurt Hawaii! First vacation I haven’t gone to Hawaii in several years.

  6. Aloha! Interesting that neither Australia nor New Zealand were mentioned. Both have decided to put health and lives first.

    1. I thought the same. Also, Canada (they did mention Mexico)is a popular visitor origination country, and Japan and Korea have managed to control their outbreaks. I know it irks some to look to those origination points (NZ, AU, CN, JP, K) as the safer visitor options, sometimes called “travel bubble” countries, but perhaps this would be the best way to introduce travel back to the islands until the mainland finds a way to control spread.

      1. It’s infuriating. The way to control spread is to wear masks, social distance, wash hands and if possible just stay home! What don’t people get? It’s simple consideration and it’s painless. Sorry, but sometimes the dumbing down of America is really apparent and it’s sad.

        1. I could not agree more. Claudia, it seems the urge for self gratification is out weighing common sense. Stay home , mask up and be patient. My parents generation sacrificed a hell of a lot more during the depression and then on to WWll . Cowboy up and let’s get through this in a safe and healthy way.

  7. As always, thank you for sharing these updates. Now, a question: do you know if the islands referenced created their plans before or after Hawaii had announced the original plan? Just wondering if other destinations were looking to Hawaii as the leader by example and based their requirements on what they thought Hawaii was going to do.

  8. Many of these topics elicit responses that require a political response.

    For instance….if the State is making a policy that is detrimental to tourism, how do you not address is without discussing the political climate that enables the policy?

  9. It seems Hawaii’s government’s needs assistance (from other states/countries) to get plans in place. The flip flop decision making is a huge turn off to us (visitors). I’ve changed my Kaua’i trip 3 times. September is not happening…..based on past non-decision making—in my opinion. I rebooted for January 2021….and working in a backup plan, just in case. We want Hawai’i safe, we also want clear and honest communication. Mahalo.

    1. Thank you for the info! We’re waiting it out but assume we will have to cancel our flight and accommodations for Oahu and Kauai in early October. While we certainly don’t mind being tested before departure, we are not currently in an area where we can get results quickly. Average is 4 days. Even if it was, say 24-48, hours, if we unexpectedly had a positive test result, we would have severe financial penalties to cancel.
      It’s too much risk right now. We will wait until there are more options for rapid test results and cancelation policies are adjusted based on the final rules.

  10. The citizens of Hawaii need to vote different…these same old crooks are gonna kill this State!

      1. The US Virgin Islands have restrictions for travelers from states with a C0VID positivity rate of 10% or greater. We originally had planned on going to Kauai at the end of August then changed to St Thomas USVI due to the HI restrictions and difficulty to comply. If the USVI fall through, we’re staying put until this is under control.

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