Transforming the Hospitality Industry: The Power of Community Tourism on Big Island Hawaii

Transforming the Hospitality Industry: The Power of Community Tourism on Big Island Hawaii

Big Island Hawaii, also known as the Island of Hawaiʻi, is a popular tourist destination that attracts millions of visitors each year. While tourism provides many benefits to the local economy, it can also have negative impacts on the environment and local communities.

One way to mitigate these negative impacts and transform the hospitality industry on Big Island Hawaii is through community tourism. Community tourism is a form of tourism that focuses on engaging with local communities and supporting their economic, social, and environmental well-being. It provides travelers with an opportunity to learn about local cultures and traditions while also giving back to the communities they visit.

The Department of Research and Development’s Tourism Program provides leadership and financial support to strengthen a community-based visitor industry that ensures authenticity, reciprocity, sustainability, and responsibility, invests in the people and places that host visitors, and appropriately grounds visitor activities in Hawaiʻi Island’s sense of place and culture of its first nation ².

By engaging in community tourism on Big Island Hawaii, travelers can help support the local economy while also learning about the rich history and culture of the island. It provides a more authentic and meaningful travel experience while also benefiting the communities visited.

In conclusion, community tourism has the power to transform the hospitality industry on Big Island Hawaii. By engaging with local communities and supporting their economic, social, and environmental well-being, travelers can help create a more sustainable future for Big Island Hawaii while also having an unforgettable travel experience. #BigIslandAdventure #CommunityTourism

Source:
(1) Tourism | Hawaii County, HI Research & Development. https://www.rd.hawaiicounty.gov/economic-development/tourism.
(2) Here’s Why It’s So Hard To Reshape Hawaii’s Tourism Industry. https://www.civilbeat.org/2021/05/heres-why-its-so-hard-to-reshape-hawaiis-tourism-industry/.
(3) Fact Sheet: Benefits of Hawaii’s Tourism Economy. https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4167/hta-tourism-econ-impact-fact-sheet-december-2019.pdf.