Hawaii will welcome back tourists who test negative for COVID-19 starting Oct. 15, Hawaii Governor David Ige announced Wednesday.
The program will allow visitors to bypass the current 14-day mandatory quarantine for anyone entering the state.
Hawaii had been set to open up to visitors Aug. 1 but ended up pushing back the start date several times.
Since COVID-19 broke out and restrictions were put in place, tourism in Hawaii has plunged. The number of arrivals dropped 65% in the first seven months of the year, according to the Honolulu Star Advertiser. In July, the number of visitors fell 98% compared to the same month last year.
Tourists coming back to Hawaii in time for the holidays would be good news for the surf industry because the state is a key region for many brands and retailers. Several brands have told us Hawaii is currently the most challenged piece of their businesses globally because of the tourism restrictions.
Read our in-depth story about how Hawaii businesses are faring without tourists here.
