A year after Maui fires, tourism nears a US$1 billion deficit

Wailea is just one of Maui's many pristine beaches that have been eerily quiet. Before the disaster, they were like magnets to tourists. (Image: Hawaii Tourism Authority / Tor Johnson)

Bloomberg

Sat, 17 Aug 2024

By Jen MurphyNearly one year after devastating wildfires killed more than 100 people and decimated the historic town of Lahaina on the west side of Maui in Hawaii, travellers are still unclear whether they’re welcome. That lingering uncertainty has created nearly US$1 billion (NZ$1.66b) in lost revenue for the island, which has historically relied on tourism for 70% of every dollar in its economy, according to the Maui Economic Development Board.Officially, all of Maui – with the exception of the burn zone in Lahaina – ha...

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