2 days ago
Upcoming Rams mini-camp hopes to give Hawaii tourism much-needed summer boost
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Many are excited and ready for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams to host their summer mini-camp in Wailuku next week. Officials hope this showcases how these partnerships can give a much-needed boost to our tourism industry.
The Yaroshuk family hasn't been to Hawaii in 18 years. So they're soaking up every minute they can.
The Los Angeles Rams are heading to Maui next summer
'Just a nice getaway,' said Lina Yaroshuk, a visitor from Toronto. 'Just 10 days away from the usual you know, people wanna go somewhere on holidays where they can just relax, do some hiking, you know visit some areas you haven't seen in a while.'
They're not the only ones returning to the islands this summer. The Los Angeles Rams are ready for their Maui mini-camp next week.
'Let's not kid ourselves, we're not getting anything football wise done, but it'll be a cool trip to be able to connect, so we'll enjoy it and look forward to it next week,' said Sean Mcvay, Los Angeles Rams head coach.'Every time we have something big come to the state, whether it's a training camp for a football or a concert, revenue generally rises because many people from around the country fly over,' said Rep. Adrian Tam, House Tourism Committee chair.
The timing couldn't be better. Even though the state says visitors numbers are up so far this year compared to last year, they're expecting a modest slowdown during summer. According to a statement from Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director James Tokioka, caused by political and economic uncertainties both nationally and internationally.
'I don't understand, Just have a look around, everybody could enjoy yourself for sure,' Yaroshuk said.
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Officials say if we want our tourism industry to not only survive, but thrive, we need to offer more.
'Beaches and our natural environment is a huge factor, 100-percent, it's our branding,' Tam said. 'But we have to give them more than just our beaches and our natural environment. We have to think outside the box and we have to look into concerts, sporting events, and conferences.'
So people like the Yaroshuks won't wait another 18 years to come back.
'You know what I've got a few more days, I'm looking forward to renting a car and going further up north, just exploring more of what the island has to offer,' Yaroshuk said. 'But so far, no disappointments, I'll be back.'
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