Tour companies on the Big Island are expecting a busier Spring Break and summer after Safe Travels Hawaii becomes part of the past.
Gov. David Ige earlier this month announced that on March 26 domestic travelers to the state no longer will need to submit proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results to avoid being quarantined upon arrival, and masks no longer will be required indoors.
KapohoKine Adventures is gearing up for a busy season by hiring more people after losing nearly 90% of its staff due to the pandemic.
“Every day has been absolutely crazy, and it’s definitely going to be busier,” said Marketing Director Coco Kreusling. “Our biggest struggle has been finding people that want to work. We’ve been interviewing daily and hiring more guides to be able to support us when we completely open back up.”
After interviewing about 100 people, KapohoKine hired five new guides and will be increasing the amount of vans on the road from about 10 to 15.
“Hiring five people is huge for us, because we have zero revenue unless we have guides on the street,” Kreusling said. “It takes a specific person to be able to guide, and we’re happy to have a few more people out.”
KapohoKine was inundated with more business when cruise ships returned to the Port of Hilo earlier this year.
“We have been slammed with cruises, but many of our patrons are not just from the cruise ships,” Kreusling said. “Many other visitors feel they can breathe and enjoy their vacations by doing tours again, so we’ve been able to max out our vans.”
Kreusling is excited to see more visitors taking tours, not just for KapohoKine, but also for local businesses the tour groups frequent.
“It feels good to see more tours coming back around, because it puts money into our business and the local economy, too,” Kreusling said. “Everything we do gives back to the community at the same time.”
Robin Akau, operations manager for Wasabi Tours, expects more interest in bus tours across the island after the removal of Safe Travels.
“I think we’ll see more people taking tours, because there will be no requirements to go through in order to get here. People can get off the plane and not worry,” Akau said.
Akau thinks that an influx in tourism could cause a shortage of rental cars, which could increase interest in van or bus tours.
“I think we’ll see an increase in rental car prices as well. When travel reopened the first time, we had a shortage of rental cars that really impacted tourism,” Akau said. “I think that would cause an increase in van and bus tours, because people coming here for the first time want to see as much of the island as they can.”
Wasabi Tours hosts about five tours from Tuesday to Saturday and has been fully booked most weeks. With the end of Safe Travels and masking mandates, Akau expects interest to rise.
“I think once the mask mandate is lifted people may be more inclined to take tours, too,” Akau said. “We’ve actually had to turn some people away already, so we’re trying to prepare for even busier time.”
The Umauma Falls Experience offers six different tours for visitors that include ziplining, ATVs and horseback riding, with most people visiting from out of state.
With Safe Travels program ending soon, John McCollum, general manager of Umauma, is anticipating a busy spring and summer.
“We are expecting a bigger Spring Break than last year, and a slightly busier summer season, as well,” McCollum said. “Last year’s Spring Break was still emerging from a recovery period. Now, without the restrictions, it is looking to be even busier.”
McCollum believes that removing Safe Travels will bring in more tourism, but is worried about how travel will be affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Removing any obstacles for the tourists to be able to come to Hawaii will always result in better tourism,” McCollum said. “Now, the bigger concern is the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and how it will impact travel.”
While domestic travel will open up without restrictions March 26, restrictions on international travel remain in place for the time being.
Kai Huang, manager at Hawaii Green Tours, does not foresee a change in business for the tour company since it caters mostly to international travelers.
“We are not planning on seeing a major change until Hawaii opens up to other countries,” Huang said. “Our business is sporadic with busy weeks and slow ones. We’re doing our best to get by, but the cruise ships have been helping a lot.”
Michael Bell with Body Glove Cruises is expecting nonstop business, especially in June and July.
“COVID rewrote the book on everything, but last summer from May to September we were sold out for every trip,” Bell said. “Now, without Safe Travels, I can only imagine that happening again. We’re preparing for an insane summer.”
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.