The jarring contrast between those holidaying and those hurting is hard to bear for many in Hawaii.

  • TragicNotCute@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    The loss of life is tragic, but I’m not sure what she’s upset about. Tourists didn’t come there to mock or make light. They just have bad timing in paradise.

    • SomeoneElse@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      Tourism will play a huge part in helping the community recover economically too. They’re going to need tourists to stay/come back asap. I thought the Greek president was canny to offer tourists affected by the wildfires in Rhodes a free holiday next year.

      • Copernican@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        I hear the challenge right now is that even before the fire there was a housing shortage. Tourists should not travel to Hawaii right now if those hotel beds can instead be used to shelter displaces people near term.

        • DreamButt@lemmy.world
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          2 years ago

          Ya exactly. “It’s okay if a local people are exploited by industry and country. It helps the economy” is such a terrible take and I genuinely don’t know why people here are defending it

          • NewNewAccount@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            Is it always exploitation? Couldn’t an argument be made that tourists in tourist areas are the ones being exploited?

          • SomeoneElse@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            I was thinking more along the lines of a large proportion of locals must work in the tourist industry - whether that’s owning hotels, working in them, owning touristy shops, tour guides, surf instructors etc etc. The locals haven’t just suffered loss of life, property and sites of historic importance, a lot of them will lose their jobs without tourism. “Economy” was the wrong term I guess. People need those jobs not just to live but to rebuild their lives and their property.

    • Why9@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      I’m not sure what she’s upset about

      I mean we can all sympathise. We know why she’s upset. If she took more than a couple of minutes to calm down, she’ll argue herself that the country needs tourists and that they can’t be blamed for wanting to make the most of their holidays.

      Out of personal experience, it’s incredibly frustrating to see people happy and smiling when your whole world is collapsing around you. It’s irrational but it makes sense.