Beach Trading Blog

Last week’s sudden closing of 2 major airlines who flew tourists from the Mainland to Hawaii has state official there worried about the affects this will have on tourism and the state’s economy.

Saying their visitor industry faces the biggest potential tourism crisis since September 11, 2001, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is moving forward with plans to try to boost visitor demand in the islands by increasing promotion and other methods.

Last week the agency spent $500,000 to fly stranded passengers home in a gesture of good will. According to the HTA, they chartered nine one-way flights and flew about 2,200 passengers to and from the Mainland. That meant the state subsidy worked out to about $230 a ticket. The passengers’ share varied, but averaged around $200 a ticket.

All we can say is ‘Mahalo, Hawaii - you went above and beyond in helping stranded travelers!’