One of Hawai‘i’s most popular beaches is back in business. Honolulu city officials announced the reopening of Waik?k? and Ala Moana Beach after test results revealed nearshore waters were no longer contaminated. And while the beaches were closed for two days, tourism officials are hopeful it won’t impact the image of Hawai‘i as a visitor destination. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.
For many tourists in Waik?k?, this week was not the Hawai‘i vacation they had anticipated.
"It's no good for customers," said Akio Hoshino, an employee at JTB Hawai‘i, the state’s largest travel agency for Japanese visitors. He says about 90 percent of their travelers stay in Waik?k?. And while the beach closures didn’t result in any trip cancellations, Hoshino says it was disappointing for many of their guests. "They want to really enjoy the water."
The news that Waik?k? beach had closed because of a brown water advisory made international headlines, mostly because of a wastewater spill at neighboring Ala Moana Beach Park. But according to tourism officials, it looks like the impacts on the tourism industry are minimal. "We got very little feedback from the hotels. Nobody's canceling, everyone's coming," said George Szigeti, the President and CEO of Hawai‘i Tourism Authority."We've assured that this is going to be business as usual. I think there'll be minimal collateral damage."
Those who follow the industry say the Hawai‘i brand can overcome any short term impact.Evan Jordan is an assistant professor at UH M?noa’s School of Travel Industry Management."The amount of people who have had an excellent experience coming to Hawaii is pretty big worldwide," said Jordan. "The tourism Hawaii brand, while it might be negatively affected from this publicity, should still remain strong across the globe."
On the same day the beaches were reopened, HTA announced a record number of visitors for July, saying the state is on pace for another record-breaking tourism year.
