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The Independent
26-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Hawaii becomes latest tourist spot to tackle effect of holiday rentals
Lawmakers on Maui passed legislation on Thursday aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island's vacation rentals to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the wildfire that destroyed most of Lahaina two years ago. It's the latest action by a top global tourist destination to push back against the infiltration of vacationers into residential neighborhoods and tourism overwhelming their communities. In May, Spain ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform for having violated rules. Last month, thousands of protesters in European cities like Barcelona and Venice, Italy, marched against the ills of overtourism. The Maui County Council's housing committee voted 6-3 to pass the bill, which would close a loophole that has allowed owners of condos in apartment zones to rent their units for days or weeks at a time instead of a minimum of 180 days. The mandate would take effect in the West Maui district that includes Lahaina in 2028. The rest of the county would have until 2030 to comply. The council still needs to vote on the bill, but the committee's result is a strong indication of the final outcome because all nine council members sit on the housing panel. The mayor is expected to sign the bill, which he proposed. "Bill 9 is a critical first step in restoring our commitment to prioritize housing for local residents — and securing a future where our keiki can live, grow, and thrive in the place they call home,' Maui Mayor Richard Bissen said in a statement, using the Hawaiian word for children. Vacation rentals currently account for 21% of all housing in the county, which has a population of about 165,000 people. An analysis by University of Hawaii economists predicted the measure would add 6,127 units to Maui's long-term housing stock, increasing supply by 13%. Opponents questioned whether local residents could afford the condos in question, noting that many of the buildings they are in are aging and their units come with high mortgages, insurance payments, maintenance and special assessment costs. Alicia Humiston said her condo is in a hotel zone so it won't be affected. But she predicted the measure will will hurt housekeepers, plumbers, electricians and other small business owners who help maintain vacation rentals. 'It's not what's best for the the community,' said Humiston, who is president of the Rentals by Owner Awareness Association. Bissen proposed the legislation last year after wildfire survivors and activists camped out on a beach popular with tourists to demand change. The University of Hawaii study said because only about 600 new housing units are built in the county each year, converting the vacation rentals would be equivalent to a decade's worth of new housing development. Condo prices would drop 20-40%, the study estimated. The report also predicted one-quarter of Maui County's visitor accommodations would disappear and visitor spending would sink 15%. It estimated gross domestic product would contract by 4%. The mayor said such economic analysis failed to tell a full story, noting families are torn apart when high housing costs drive out relatives and that cultural knowledge disappears when generations leave Maui. The mayor told the council the bill was one part of a broader housing strategy that would include building new housing, investing in infrastructure and stopping illegally operated vacation rentals. He said there were limits to how much new housing could be built because of constraints on water supplies and sewer infrastructure. Tourism would continue on Maui but must do so in a way 'that doesn't hollow out our neighborhoods,' the mayor said. The mayor's staff told council members that visitor spending would decline with the measure but most of the drop would be on lodging. Because 94% of those who own vacation rentals in apartment zones don't live on Maui, they said much of this income already flows off-island. They predicted the county budget could withstand an estimated $61 million decline in annual tax revenue resulting from the measure.
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Cornwall beach named among best hidden gems in England
The list was pulled together by the outdoor clothing company Millets, who created a list based on high Tripadvisor ratings from a relatively small number of reviews. Sam Chadwick, blog author and outdoor enthusiast at Millets said: 'In recent years, more people have discovered the benefits of spending time outdoors, with hotspots like Mam Tor and Scafell Pike growing in popularity. "We have compiled a list of England's best hidden gems, for those who want to avoid the crowds whilst enjoying the outdoors.' Cornwall beach ranked among England's best hidden gems The top 10 hidden gem spots in England, according to the list from Millets, were: Porth Joke Beach, which is located not too far away from Crantock, came in second place, earning a 4.8/5 score on Tripadvisor from 153 reviews. It just missed out on first spot to Embleton Bay in Northumberland, which had an almost perfect Tripadvisor score of 4.9/5. Known locally as 'Polly Joke', Porth Joke Beach is an "archetypal Cornish bay of wild rocky outcrops" according to the Visit Cornwall website. It is located quite a walk away from any parking spot, meaning there is a bit of a trek to get to it, but it is worth it for the relative seclusion and amazing views. The north-west facing cove is owned and cared for by the National Trust, and doesn't have any amenities. It has earned plenty of rave reviews from those who have visited, with many appreciating its quiet charms. One person wrote: "Porth Joke (aka Polly Joke) Beach turned out to be our favourite beach of our holiday! It's a bit of a walk from the nearest car park, but worth it when you get there. To reach Porth Joke it is a little bit of a walk from the nearest car park (Image: Richard B/Tripadvisor) "Fabulous spacious sandy beach, dog friendly all year round, great caves, small rockpools, stunning scenery." Recommended reading: Another said: "Utterly glorious on a hot summers day. Blue, clear sea, golden sand. From late May to July, you have to pass by fields of red poppies. A truly wondrous place." A third posted: "Hidden gem (or as hidden as a Cornish beach can be). Small, quiet beach if you want to get away from the big beaches and crowds." Other Cornwall spots that featured in the top 10 were Portheras Cove, Lantic Bay and Cardinham Woods.
