Mayor Roth released the following statement following Governor Ige’s call for the return of Visitors.
“We’re excited to welcome back visitors from around the world under a newly established framework that aims to build tourism around our communities and not the other way around,” Mayor Roth said. “The pandemic has given us the pause we needed to reassess and reimagine tourism on our island. As a result, we have worked tirelessly with the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority, the Hawaiʻi Island Visitors Bureau, and vested members of our community to create a Destination Management Action Plan that finally puts our community, its culture and values, and its wellbeing at the forefront of our redefined tourism industry. Together we will uphold the aloha spirit that welcomes, with open arms, visitors from all walks of life while protecting in perpetuity the people, places, and resources that make Hawaiʻi Island so special.”