The costly tasks involved in preserving the island’s natural beauty are many: restoring coral reefs when boats have run aground there. Protect native forests from deadly fungal outbreaks. Patrol the water to spot swimmers harassing dolphins and turtles. “All I want to do is hold travelers accountable and make them pay for the impact they have on nature,” Democratic Gov. Josh Green said. According to him, there are between nine and ten million visitors for the 1.4 million inhabitants. You should help to preserve the environment.
Hawaii Congress is considering legislation that would require tourists to purchase a year-long permit or pass to visit state parks and use hiking trails for a fee. The amount of the fee is still under discussion.
During his election campaign last year, the governor himself advocated charging all tourists an entry fee of 50 dollars (regarding 46 euros). But lawmakers say that would violate the right to travel enshrined in the US Constitution. Instead, they enter the natural areas for an entrance fee, so to speak. So far, both variants would be unique for a US state.
In Germany, the payment of a visitor’s tax – also local tax, guest tax or visitor’s tax – by tourists to a municipality is a common procedure to allow people who are only staying there temporarily to share in the infrastructure costs.
This message was broadcast on 04/07/2023 on Deutschlandfunk.
