Tourists to Hawaii: We want to see less of you

hawaii tourists 1 | eTurboNews | eTN

Developed by the residents of Oahu, and in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB), the Oahu Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP) identifies areas of need as well as solutions for enhancing the residents’ quality of life and improving the visitor experience. The number one item on the plan is to decrease the total number of visitors. Tourism is Hawaii’s largest economy driver and spreads itself over other industries such as service, transportation, and retail.

  1. Community feedback was gathered during two virtual presentations as well as an online input form.  
  2. The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has published the 2021-2024 DMAP, a guide to rebuild, redefine and reset the direction of tourism on Oahu.
  3. The community-based plan is part of HTA’s work toward Malama Kuu Home (caring for my beloved home) and its accelerated efforts underway to manage tourism in a regenerative manner.

“We appreciate the Oahu residents who participated in the DMAP process and passionately contributed their diverse viewpoints, discussed various tourism-related challenges in their neighborhoods and helped set forth an actionable plan that is necessary for the community’s well-being,” said John De Fries, HTA president and CEO. “It’s about continued collaboration and moving forward together to malama this cherished place and each other, as desired by the people of Oahu.”

hawaii tourists 2 | eTurboNews | eTN

The DMAP focuses on key actions that the community, visitor industry and other sectors deem necessary over a three-year period. The foundation of the Oahu DMAP is based on HTA’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, and the actions are based on the four interacting pillars – Natural Resources, Hawaiian Culture, Community and Brand Marketing.

“Oahu is a special place and stands out from anywhere else in the world thanks to its natural beauty and its remarkable people. By working together as a community to care for our resources, we create an environment where our culture, our land and water, our economy, and our relationships can thrive,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. 

He continued, “In working with the Hawaii Tourism Authority on Oahu’s Destination Management Action Plan, the City and County of Honolulu will focus on three community-based priorities: Protect our most popular sites and manage the experience for everyone who visits them, limit short-term rentals to resort zoned areas, and increase the use of sustainable visitor-related transportation options.”

The following actions were developed by the Oahu steering committee, comprised of residents representing the communities they live in, as well as the visitor industry, different business sectors, and nonprofit organizations, with community input. Representatives from the City and County of Honolulu, HTA and OVB also provided input throughout the process. 

  • Decrease the total number of visitors to Oahu to a manageable level by controlling the number of visitor accommodations and exploring changes to land use, zoning and airport policies.
  • Implement a pre- and post-arrival tourism communications program to encourage respectful and supportive behavior.
  • Identify sites and implement stewardship plans for key hotspots on Oahu.
  • Increase enforcement and active management of sites and trails.
  • Develop a reservation system to monitor and manage users at natural resource and cultural sites.
  • Establish a “Regenerative Tourism Fee” that directly supports programs to regenerate Hawaii’s resources, protect natural resources, and address unfunded conservation liabilities.
  • Develop and implement marketing programs to attract positive-impact travelers who prioritize the environment, culture and investing in our local community.
  • Continue to develop and implement “Buy Local” programs to promote purchase of local products and services to keep funds in our communities and minimize carbon footprint.
  • Manage the visitors’ use of cars as transportation on Oahu.
  • Work with community partners to develop, market, encourage, and support more collaborative, curated experiences that enrich residents and visitors alike.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor

Linda Hohnholz, eTN editor

Linda Hohnholz has been writing and editing articles since the start of her working career. She has applied this innate passion to such places as Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University, the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, and now TravelNewsGroup.

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