Javier Cantellops, a skilled boat captain and dive tour operator in Maui, is urgently urging individuals who are considering visiting the famous vacation destination to make their way to Hawaii’s second-largest island as soon as possible. He believes that the calls from certain government officials, airlines, and celebrities to stay away from Maui after the devastating wildfires in Lahaina, which tragically took the lives of at least 114 individuals, were unwarranted and inappropriate. Many tourists have canceled their planned trips, causing significant hardship for small businesses in Maui.
Cantellops stated to CBS MoneyWatch, “While the west side, particularly Lahaina, has been devastated and closed off, Maui as a whole is still open for business. The best way to support Maui during this crisis is to return as a visitor. We need the return of tourists and their warm smiles.”
In the past week alone, Cantellops estimated that his two businesses, Maui Dreams Dive Company and Island Style Diving, have suffered losses of approximately $35,000 to $38,000 in revenue due to canceled bookings. Both of these businesses are located in Kihei, which is situated on Maui’s southwest shore, around 20 miles away from Lahaina.
“This is not just a loss in revenue, but also a loss in wages for our employees. And I am just one company. If we multiply this by 100, the impact is unimaginable,” he added. “As a tourist-dependent economy, it is irresponsible to take away this crucial source of revenue because of a tragedy that occurred in a separate part of the island.”
The aftermath of the wildfires has had an immediate negative impact on local restaurants, farmers, and activity operators. This loss of revenue makes it challenging for those residing and working in unaffected areas to support those who have lost everything. Cantellops emphasized the importance of tourists patronizing businesses that are still operational on parts of the island untouched by the fires.
Nutcharee Case, owner of a Thai restaurant, has also experienced the effects of the wildfires firsthand as tourists have become hesitant to visit Maui. As part of a significant relief effort, Case has been providing meals to wildfire survivors in Lahaina free of charge.
“We have been experiencing a significant decline in business. However, we still need tourists to come to the island. Their support is vital for us to assist the locals affected by the wildfires,” Case expressed to CBS MoneyWatch. “We still have beautiful beaches and a variety of restaurants that tourists can enjoy, and their patronage will provide the necessary funds to help others in need.”
Typically, half of Case’s clientele consists of tourists, while the other half is made up of locals. Despite locals continuing to dine out, the absence of tourists has led to a sharp decline in her business.
Apart from the immediate impact, businesses that supply local restaurants with fresh produce are concerned about their ability to sustain operations, especially after the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ryan Eareheart, owner of Okoa Farms, a family-run farm on Maui, shared, “The entire industry has suffered immensely, with restaurants shutting down due to the pandemic. We are already experiencing a drastic reduction in our wholesale orders just within a week, as restaurant sales continue to decline.”
Eareheart stressed the significance of tourists supporting open businesses on the unaffected parts of the island. “While it is a time of mourning, we will experience prolonged mourning if we don’t have the income from tourists. Their presence is crucial to our recovery,” he explained.
Gabe Lucy, president of Sail Trilogy, a sail and snorkeling trip operator in Maui, also emphasized that Maui remains open for tourism, despite the closure of Lahaina. He stated, “There is a lot of noise and misinformation, but as long as visitors don’t come to gawk at the destruction, we need responsible tourism to sustain us.”
He added, “Mass layoffs are occurring, and this will only exacerbate the suffering on Maui. Other parts of the island also need to thrive in order for the whole island to recover swiftly. We must avoid a situation where the recovery process is prolonged.”
It is evident that the wildfires in Lahaina have had a devastating impact on small businesses in Maui. The local community is rallying together to support those affected, but they also need the return of tourists to help revitalize the economy. By visiting the unaffected parts of the island and patronizing open businesses, tourists can play a significant role in the recovery efforts of Maui.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
