More than 3 million visitors came to Maui County in 2019. Last year the COVID-19 pandemic struck and tourism arrivals fell below 800,000. The decline in tourism starved our economy, but we managed to survive. An unexpected gift from the pandemic was a necessary break from tourism.

Now Maui County has an unprecedented opportunity to reset tourism in ways that benefit our people and the environment. Most of us agree that Maui County can have tourism, but Maui County cannot have tourism. This is our home, not a theme park. We’re joining many other destinations in search of friendlier, gentler, more balanced hospitality.

Venice, Italy is one of the most visited travel destinations in the world. Before the pandemic, this historic city welcomed around 25 million visitors annually. To provide context, Venice is about 160 square miles compared to Maui Island’s 727 square miles.

While tourism went unchecked, the Venetians were driven from their own hometown as temporary vacation rentals killed apartment buildings like cancer. It is therefore not surprising that residents revolted in 2016 by posting anti-Airbnb leaflets in their city to urge tourists to boycott TVRs. Dublin, Barcelona and the Greek island of Santorini have since joined the anti-vacation rental movement, which is gaining momentum around the world.

Like Maui, Venice enjoyed a break from tourism during the pandemic. It convinced the locals not to let tourism return the same way. Venice officials are now rethinking their entire tourism management system. According to Paola Mar, councilor for tourism, part of her plan is to lure locals back to live in the city permanently.

The Mayor of Venice is discussing the conversion of vacation homes into student and workers’ housing, and historic buildings are now being restored as residential buildings. Efforts to cap tourism – including a new high tax for day visitors – are expected to begin this summer.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Venetians took to the streets to protest the arrival of the first cruise ship since the city’s port closed due to the pandemic. A counter-protest was organized by thousands of workers who depend on tourism for a living and who have been unemployed since the pandemic last spring.

When tourism returned to Maui, our beloved road to Hana was overrun with tourists who stopped and parked at every place they could find. They follow irresponsible advice from tour guides and regularly enter private property; Take selfies at any waterfall, pond, or natural feature; and hinder local residents and others on the way. The State Department of Transportation recently installed several signs warning of higher fines for illegally stopping on the Hana Highway.

I spoke with MPD about tightening enforcement, and as of June 1, officials issued 387 parking bans along Hana Highway. At the same time, MPD needs at least 90 new recruits to fill a longstanding officer shortage. You have to choose between the execution of serious crimes or the marking of illegally parked rental cars.

I also spoke to the governor about restricting access, but since the Hana Highway was built with federal funds, this is not an option. And as much as I would like to tow away any illegally parked vehicle, the safety concerns of groups of people without transport in areas with spotty mobile communications must be taken into account.

I am considering adding a new category of park inspectors to law enforcement officers or using county park rangers to report parking violations. However, such changes would require an agreement with the Hawaii State Police Officer Organization and / or United Public Workers organization and a new budget allocation so that this does not happen overnight. I am also speaking to state lawmakers to determine what aid the state of Hawaii can provide.

The community’s desire for immediate change requires the fastest possible response, weighing all options. It will take time to diversify our economy to reduce Maui County’s over-reliance on tourism. Building a sustainable, diversified economy takes determination and patience. Fortunately, the pandemic has taught us that with determination and unity, Maui County can achieve anything.

* “Our district” a column by Maui Mayor Michael Victorino discusses county affairs and county government activities.

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