Nightly taxes increasing in Hawaii?

[bobmnu]

Back in the 1960s and 70s The tax fight was between farmers and lake front cottage owners. Local town boards would hold a meeting in the morning making it difficult for cottage owners to attend. Lake front property was taxes at a much higher rate than farms land. This was followed several years later by the room tax on motels. A few years ago the bed tax was introduced based on the number of beds. Some counties also applied the local sales tax plus the room tax, which increased the cost of a nightly stay. The politicians also tried to apply this to timeshares but ended up applying it to Nursing Homes and Assisted living increasing the cost between $300 to $700 per month. Politicians never found a tax they didn't like especially when they could apply it to people who can't vote against them.

 

[jp10558]

How much taxation will it take before it’s not worth visiting anymore?

Well, I've never been to Hawaii, and it's kinda portrayed as a "bucket list" trip. So I'm trying to get a trade next year some time. If my Fox Run pulls any Marriott 2BR sometime next year I'll try and use my HGVC and Wyndham points to bookend it/extend it somehow. But if that doesn't go through, I'm not sure if we'll go to Hawaii. It's not clear to me that it'll be all that much better than trying to go to Spain or Greece or the Caribbean (or anywhere we'll need expensive and longish flights to get to, excepting if it gets harder to re-enter the country as time goes on) or even that much better than a summer trip to some Florida, South Carolina or California beach, the first two of which I can drive to. I did not hate December in Miami Beach South Beach last year.

 

[CericRushmore]

Somewhat related, but when I was applying for my New Zealand ETA (basically the "free" tourist visa), there was a $100 NZD (about $60) charge added on and I thought I was on a scam site. It ended up being basically a tourist fee. I know the UK has also added very very high airlines taxes as well. Interesting to see the different approaches that places are taking to "manage" tourism and "support" the environment.

Of course, these places also spend tens of tens of millions of dollars advertising to get tourists there, so it is a bit odd, but such is life.

Hawaii just release $6.3 million to increase tourism. https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/25-04/
$6.3 Million Released for Tourism Recovery Campaign

 

[dioxide45]

$6.3 Million Released for Tourism Recovery Campaign

They expect the increase in taxes to bring in an additional $400 million. So it seems the $6.3 million is money well spent.

 

[Volcom32001]

I just got back from Marriott Ko Olina and the VOCC Tax for a 2bedroom was $31.68 per night.

 

[ThierryJapan]

Timeshare become less and less interesting.