Known for its pristine beaches and untouched nature, the Aloha State in the US attracts millions of visitors from across the globe. As good tourism is for a particular place, the natural resources need to be protected. Which is why the state’s government is proposing a tourist tax, known as a green fee.
The green fee will help protect the archipelago’s natural beauty, conserve endangered species and preserve Hawaiian culture. Although this is just a proposal, if it is passed, Hawaii’s green fee will be the first environmental fee in the US.
The Hawaii Green Fee is passed by the Hawaii's state legislature and is priced at $50 (INR 4,122) per nonresident over the age of 15. There will be a requirement to pay a yearly license which is the green fee to use beaches, forests, hiking trails or state-owned parks.
More about Hawaii’s green fee
Hawaii Governor Josh Green shared with The Points Guy, “We saw so clearly the impacts of 10 million annual visitors on our islands that in addition to my proposal, there are several being discussed at the legislature. The bottom line is that we need to generate as much revenue as we can from travellers, to help mitigate those impacts.”
The goal is to generate around USD 400-500 million (INR 3,300 -4,100 Crore approx) annually through the fee.
Once the tax is paid travellers may be required to show a digital pass through an app or the Hawaii green website to gain entry to all state-run sites. Although the information about the pass and its purchase is yet to be decided.
This green is essentially an additional tax that visitors will have to pay along with the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT) in addition to other charges applicable at various tourist attractions.
The proposers of the green fee are confident that this additional cost will not be a financial barrier for tourists.
The aim is to proactively protect Hawaii's most visited natural spaces, such as beaches, and to tackle over-tourism. What do you think of this initiative to protect the wildlife and natural resources? If this proposal goes through get ready to add on the green tax to your budget.
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