MAUI, Hawaii: The devastating wildfires that ravaged the Hawaiian island of Maui were a bitter blow to the island’s tourism industry, but local residents and business leaders expect more tourists will come back as the island embarks on a long road ahead for recovery.
The wildfires, which started on Aug. 8 and have claimed the lives of at least 115 people, are the deadliest wildfires in the United States in more than a century, and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history.
The blaze has scorched much of the historic town of Lahaina, a popular tourist spot on Maui and once the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Officials released a list of 388 people who remained unaccounted for on Thursday.
The island has seen a sharp drop of tourists since the catastrophe happened.
Officials in Hawaii have urged tourists to avoid traveling to Maui in the wake of the disaster, as many hotel rooms were secured to house thousands of displaced residents and first responders.
Most inbound flights have seen only less than half occupancy.
Prior to Aug. 8, there were 6,000-7,500 domestic arrivals daily to the second largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago, reported local news outlet Maui Now, citing the state Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism.
The number dropped to as low as 1,567 on Aug. 12, and in more recent days, daily domestic arrivals hovered above 2,000, according to the report.
Occupancy at a five-star hotel in South Maui has plunged “dramatically” since the fire, a front desk operator told Xinhua.
