The jarring contrast between those holidaying and those hurting is hard to bear for many in Hawaii.

  • SomeoneElse@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Tourism will play a huge part in helping the community recover economically too. They’re going to need tourists to stay/come back asap. I thought the Greek president was canny to offer tourists affected by the wildfires in Rhodes a free holiday next year.

    • Copernican@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I hear the challenge right now is that even before the fire there was a housing shortage. Tourists should not travel to Hawaii right now if those hotel beds can instead be used to shelter displaces people near term.

      • DreamButt@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Ya exactly. “It’s okay if a local people are exploited by industry and country. It helps the economy” is such a terrible take and I genuinely don’t know why people here are defending it

      • Cleverdawny
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        1 year ago

        I don’t think destroying the Hawaiian economy would help the homeless problem in Hawaii. If anything, what needs to be happening is that the Hawaiian government needs to set up temporary housing and support rebuilding efforts.

        • Copernican@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Tourists should not travel to Hawaii right now if those hotel beds can instead be used to shelter displaces people near term.

          I am not saying there should not be any tourism. I am saying that near term, there is likely a shelter need that needs to be addressed. Putting tourism on hold for a few months won’t kill tourism. Hawaii shut down for the pandemic and had very strict Covid requirements as the world re opened. I think it can shut down for a few weeks until more aid and support arrives and is built.

          • Cleverdawny
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            1 year ago

            Oh, sorry, I misunderstood you. Yeah, for a few weeks, absolutely, the government should be buying up vacant hotel rooms in bulk while they arrange temporary housing

            • Copernican@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              NP. My take was very quick and short. I think tourism will likely always be a big part of Hawaii’s recovery, and will help the recovery. But I just want to know that the workers and people that live in hawaii have roofs over their heads when things re open.