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Hawaii town bets on lava tourism to bring back tourists
Hawaii’s Big Island businesses have bemoaned the Kilauea eruption for damaging business, but are willing to fully embrace it to reignite tourism.
They are calling for a lava viewing site over the Kilauea lava flow but authorities are finding it tough to select a suitable site that will keep everyone safe.
Diane Ley, Hawaii County’s director of research and development, said plans for a lava viewing platform have been in the works for the past two months but they are struggling to find a site that will handle large numbers of visitors without risking safety.
"That’s a challenge — to find us a site that is safe from volcanic hazards, emissions and can afford the ability for large numbers to be able to come in and view," she said.
State Sen. Russell Ruderman said local businesses are getting impatient.
"Our town (Pahoa) is dying very, very fast and very, very dramatically/ It’s needless because if we could get the word out that our town is open for business, we could still save it," Ruderman said.
The only way to see lava flows at the moment is by helicopter or by lava boat cruise.
The recent accident when a flying ‘lava bomb’ landed on a sightseeing boat has further added to the caution over getting too close the lava.
Revenues from tourism at restaurants and shops in Pahoa are down by one half and up to 90% down for some businesses, said Matthew Purvis, president of the Mainstreet Pahoa Association.
State Rep. Joy San Buenaventura has called for tour buses to be allowed to take tourists to an appropriate viewing site to take photos and be equipped with air filtration masks to protect them from noxious gases.
Authorities need to act fast ‘because the businesses are suffering.’
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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