HONOLULU \u2014 The island of Kauai plans to reopen to tourists after a halt forced by the coronavirus, but the economic recovery in the vital tourism industry could be slow.<\/p>\n
Kauai had opted out of the state program that allows trans-Pacific visitors if they produce a negative test before arrival, and the island had required all travelers to undergo a 10-day quarantine.<\/p>\n
But Kauai plans to begin its own entry program Tuesday. Travelers can avoid quarantine if they go to another Hawaii island with the pre-arrival testing program and wait at least three days before coming to Kauai.<\/p>\n
A second option would enable travelers to quarantine for three days instead of 10.<\/p>\n
Kauai County said travelers could be released from quarantine if they’re tested before arrival, quarantine for three days at a \u201cresort bubble\u201d property and then get a second test that comes back negative.<\/p>\n
Planning travel?\u00a0<\/strong>Check COVID-19 travel restrictions by state<\/span><\/p>\n There are six resorts officially labeled Enhanced Movement Quarantine hotels, where visitors are allowed to leave their rooms if they remain on the property.<\/p>\n \u201cTo the extent that they can experience the rest of the island after three days, they\u2019ll be more likely to come,\u201d said Richard Albrecht, president of The Club at Kukuiula, one of the bubble properties.\u00a0<\/p>\n Participants will be required to wear tracking bracelets.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if they\u2019re off property, that shows that they\u2019re red. And then we get on the phone, we call and try and figure out where they are,\u201d Albrecht said.<\/p>\n Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association CEO Mufi Hannemann said Kauai\u2019s hotel industry is not anticipating enough business for shuttered hotels like the Grand Hyatt or the Sheraton Kauai to immediately reopen.<\/p>\n \u201cI continue to hear from Kauai\u2019s small-business community that the changes aren\u2019t working and that these latest tweaks won\u2019t make enough difference,\u201d Hannemann said.<\/p>\n Keith Vieira, principal of KV & Associates, Hospitality Consulting LLC, said Hawaii tourism is in a \u201cbooking malaise\u201d that is likely to continue until travel rules are clarified.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Kauai situation doesn\u2019t just harm Kauai, it harms tourism across the state. People don\u2019t understand the geography, and they worry that the rules are going to keep changing,\u201d Vieira said.<\/p>\n