Hawaii's proposed tourist tax: what do you need to know?

The governor of Hawaii has initiated a tax on travelers staying in hotels or short-term rentals, becoming the latest place to tax tourists. The fee will be $25.

Josh Green noted that the "modest fee" would bring in more than $68 million in revenue annually. According to him, the money will be used to invest in beach preservation, firebreaks and other preventive measures. It is reported by travelandleisure.com.

"Charging visitors for their climate impact will provide the necessary resources to protect our environment and raise awareness of the effects of climate change. I believe we are not asking too much of visitors to our islands...," Green said.

Instead of the fee, the governor said he was "open to other proposals that would accomplish the same goals," such as increasing the transient occupancy tax. Hawaii has some of the highest tourist taxes in the world. For example, a stay in Honolulu involves a 10.25 percent tax on temporary housing, as well as an additional 3 percent surcharge on Oahu.

Green's proposal is the latest attempt to combat excessive tourism in Hawaii. Last year, officials proposed introducing a visitor fee program and charging travelers a fee to purchase a license to visit a state park, forest, hiking trail, or other natural area in the state. However, the actual amount was a matter of debate. For his part, Green himself favored charging tourists a $50 fee to enter the state.