Hawaii Governor Proposes Climate Impact Fee for Tourists

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hawaii Governor Josh Green proposed a Climate Impact Fee for incoming visitors checking into hotels or short-term rentals. The fee is estimated to generate over US$68 million each year and will be used for environmental maintenance.

The governor proposed to charge all tourists a US$25 fee during his 2024 state of the state address. The money will be used to invest in beach preservation, fire breaks, and other prevention measures. 

“A Climate Impact Fee on visitors would provide the needed resources to protect our environment and increase awareness of the impacts of climate change,” Green said, adding, “I believe this is not too much to ask of visitors to our islands… Hawaii’s natural resources — our beaches, forests, and waterfalls — are an essential part of our culture and our way of life.”

In lieu of the fee, Green said he was “open to other proposals that would achieve the same goals” like increasing the transient accommodation tax. Green’s proposal is the latest effort to combat over-tourism in Hawaii.

Last year, officials proposed establishing a visitor impact fee program and charging travelers a fee to buy a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other state natural area. The actual amount, however, was up for debate.

Hawaii Tourism Authority Board Chair Mufi Hannemann said an increase in the transient accommodation tax is a non-starter because Hawaii already had one of the highest in the nation. However, he was open to the possibility of a climate impact fee.

“We don’t want to see a blanket fee that will go into a general fund,” Hannemann said. “We want to tie it back to something that has to do with the environment, some type of impact the visitors feel they have when they come here. We’re okay to have that dialogue.”

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