Hawaii’s Haleakala national park pondering ways to cut down on tourism activities
Skift Take
With all airlines increasing capacity to Hawaii this year & record number of tourists, this push and pull with locals & local environment will continue. Admirable conservation steps forward if cutbacks approved.
Haleakala National Park officials in Maui are seeking public input on a plan that would significantly scale back commercial tour activities offered in the park, including prohibiting tours several days each year and banning motor coaches. This includes trimming the number of vehicle tour operators in the park by 80 percent.
The changes are needed to alleviate negative impacts that commercial activities are having on Haleakala’s natural and cultural resources, and to restore a “sense of place.”
The 33,000-acre national park is its most popular, and has close to 957,000 visitors last year, down from more than 1 million visitors the year before.
Up Next
Airlines
How Airlines are Redefining Premium Travel with Customizable and Personalized Experiences
As the airline industry adapts to evolving traveler expectations, premium cabins coupled with personalized experiences have become essential tools for driving loyalty and revenue. Airlines are turning to digital innovation and sustainable practices to redefine the premium travel experience and meet the needs of diverse customers.
Sponsored 
Airlines
Air India Loyalty Program to Include Air India Express: Plus, Plans for First Class and New Long-Haul Hubs
Air India's loyalty overhaul, now extending to Air India Express, signals its ambition to build a seamless dual-airline ecosystem. The airline is also focusing on long-haul dominance but the real challenge lies in competing with dominant foreign hubs. Can it truly shift the balance?
Airlines
What Pete Buttigieg Wants Airline CEOs to Know
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke with Skift about his tenure at the department, mergers and approach to consumer regulations.
Tourism
China’s Extended Spring Festival Holiday Signals Record Travel Surge
China's extended Lunar New Year holiday is projected to drive a record-breaking travel season, presenting the travel industry a prime opportunity to leverage a peak period of heightened consumer activity.
Airlines
Airlines Cancel Over 2,700 U.S. Flights as Winter Storm Sweeps South
As another winter storm hits the U.S., airlines canceled thousands of flights on Friday.