Pricy Paradise Essay (Final Draft)

            Hotels in Hawaii offer the islands' native culture and bright entertainment in the name of aloha. Despite the joy, a welcome to the islands comes at heavy expenses by lawmakers and the Hawaiian Tourism Authority (HTA). Lawmakers have made decisions on hotel room tax, resulting in an increase by 2 percent. This and flight costs have been increased for the island’s benefit in business. Hawaii is often seen to be a paradise fro vacation, but high expenses are keeping tourists from willing to have an island stay.

            Hawaii depends on tourism as it’s most effective industry, despite cost increase. “Hawaii relies heavily on tourism, and some tourist-related business owners and their employees are worried that the increase will hurt businesses and cost jobs,” (Par 6). Hotels, stores, restaurants, thrill attractions, and more, are all types of businesses relying on tourism, which helps them earn a profit to buy supplies or fix their building areas and keep thriving in the community. Their benefit from tourism is slowly decreasing with a growing tax rate, thus beginning an argument to the government. “Tourism is the largest single contributor to the state’s gross domestic product, representing about 21 percent of its entire economy,” (Par 2). If the tourism industry gives 21 percent of Hawaii’s economic profit, then there are far more industries in Hawaii that help benefit to the islands. It also shows the importance of the industry and reason to a higher tax for more profit.

            Taxing tourists has grown over the years, and thus take more money out of visitors. “The hotel accommodations tax rate will increase intementally from 7.25 percent to 9.25 percent by mid-2010,” (Par 6). Since tax increase that much during 2010, it might have had another increase and tourism statistic dropped. The tax also has people already living in Hawaii work much harder. "There was a record 8 million visitors in Hawaii last year who spent a collective $14 billion in 2012. Most spend an average of $196 per person per day or $1,800 per trip," (Par 2). After the taxing increase in mid-2010, it's shown that each person per trip spends greater averages. This makes it more costly for families visiting Hawaii, with having to pay a lot for multiple people.

            Despite these warnings, millions of people visit Hawaii anyway, even though the expenses still drain them of their money. “More than 1.2 million Californians have visited Hawaii so far this year (2013), along with 320,000 Washington State residents,” (Par 3). The number of visitors from those states may be because of being geographically closer, therefore paying less for flight. Since these statistics were from 2013, the numbers may have raised this year (2015). “Hawaii has seen more New Yorkers and New Jersey visitors this year (2013); tourism from mid-Atlantic states is up for than 10% over last year," (Par 4). Even though the East Coast is much farther and flights from there to Hawaii are more expensive, visitor numbers are increasing. The statistics of their visitors may be closer to that of the West Coast’s.

            Hawaii's tourism industry is very sensitive, meaning the higher the cost to visit, lesser people will choose a vacation here, and the islands will earn a smaller profit as a result. Hawaii is often seen to be a paradise for vacation, but high expenses are keeping tourists from having an island stay. Tourism is a huge benefit to Hawaii, but since taxing keeps growing, it will get harder for the industry to keep making a high profit.