Will Hawaii Implement a New Tourism Tax This 12 months? Right here’s What To Know

When Hawaii’s legislative session opens on Jan. 15, one of many first orders of enterprise might be voting on a brand new payment for incoming vacationers.

In a Dec. 31, 2024 memorandum, Hawaii Gov. Josh Inexperienced introduced plans for “constructing a climate-resilient Hawaii” which would come with a payment for vacationers that may assist fund the state’s conservation efforts.

“The administration has additionally been engaged on proposing the ‘Inexperienced Charge” to the legislature. The initiative would require guests to pay a payment to assist fund local weather resilience initiatives,” the assertion learn. “These funds will help efforts to protect and shield our surroundings and promote clear vitality options. Because of this, these efforts will assist construct a extra resilient, sustainable Hawaii for our future generations.”

The payment could be along with Hawaii’s present tourism tax — 10.25 p.c with a further 3 p.c in some counties.

Initially, Inexperienced campaigned on a $50 flat payment for vacationers through the 2022 election. A 12 months later, officers proposed establishing a customer impression payment program which might cost vacationers a payment to purchase a license to go to a state park, forest, climbing path, or different state pure space. The initiative fell quick and was not handed. 

At the beginning 2024, a invoice calling for a “modest payment” for vacationers that may generate greater than $68 million in income annually and enhance consciousness of the impacts of local weather change was launched. Weeks later, state lawmakers selected to not move the initiative regardless of devastating wildfires that ravaged Maui’s western coast mere months prior in August 2023, which resulted in additional than 100 deaths and destruction of historic Lāhainā.

Hawaii is way from the one vacation spot imposing a tourism tax. In September 2024, New Zealand practically tripled the payment for worldwide guests and on Dec. 1, 2024 the Maldives started a departure tax that ensures vacationers contribute to island preservation. The nations be part of a protracted record of locales – together with Iceland and the Italian metropolis of Venice – utilizing charges to assist fight overtourism.