Hawaii Tourism Authority launches certification program The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has launched a visitor industry certification program entitled Qurator, which evaluates participating state tourism businesses on six criteria: environment, cultural support, equity, safety, community and guest experience. The program was unveiled at a June 26 press conference in Honolulu, where HTA officials joined with members of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement's (CNHA) Kilohana tourism division to introduce Qurator's certification details. "Qurator isn't just a stamp of approval," Mufi Hannemann, the HTA board chair, said in a statement. "It speaks to a set of brand values for the Hawaiian Islands that we care deeply about our land, our people, our culture and our guests. It's a recognition of the interdependent relationship between businesses, visitors and our broader local community." Qurator certification first requires a "self-evaluation" conducted by participating tourism businesses, making use of a survey featuring up to 220 questions designed for [...]

Costa Rica received more than 1.5 million tourists From January to June of this year, 1,532,443 tourists visited Costa Rica by air, representing an increase of 14.5% compared to the same period in 2023. A total of  994,292 tourists arrived through the Juan Santamaría International Airport, and 537,823 through the Daniel Oduber International Airport in Guanacaste. A total of 1,153,703 tourists arrived by air from North America, 18% higher than the 2023 figure, broken down as follows: United States 947,299 tourists; Canada 163,048; and Mexico 43,356 tourists. The growth in tourist figures from Europe from January to June meant the arrival of 233,480 tourists, a positive variation of 3.5% compared to the first half of the previous year. The main European source markets showed the following behaviour in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023: France 43,915 tourists (up 9.7%); Germany 40,695 tourists (up 3.4%) and [...]

Hawaii has a new regenerative tourism law (and what that means) Hawaii is home to natural and cultural wonders. On the North Shore of Oahu, Pipeline’s barrels break above coral reefs, creating the perfect ride for surfers. On the Big Island, Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park showcases Hawaiian culture, where archaeological sites offer a window into island life long ago. Maui is home to Haleakalā National Park, where endangered species thrive and volcanic topography looks out of a dream. Besides those, there’s much, much more. To preserve what Hawaii has and to help local workers thrive, Governor Josh Green signed a bill encouraging regenerative tourism. What does that mean? Here’s what you need to know. Regenerative tourism: A sustainable future for Hawaii Some 9,644,519 people visited Hawaii in 2023, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). While that undoubtedly brought joy to many, it also produced waste and wear and tear on the [...]