Tourist tax warning as Britons visiting beautiful holiday destination could be slapped with new charge

Lawmakers in Hawaii are set to approve a ‘climate tax’ of $25 (around £20).

The state faced devastation in August 2023 as wildfires in Lahaina, Maui, caused around 100 deaths and billions of dollars worth of damage.

Charging tourists who enter the state would go towards wildfire prevention and also to protect the climate, including the upkeep of beaches.

If introduced, the fee is estimated to raise around $68million (£53million) for the state.

This is not the first time the state has come close to charging visitors as similar proposals were made in 2022.

At the time, Green campaigned to have all tourists pay $50 (around £40) but this did not get enough votes.

Hawaii is a popular destination for tourists looking for some sun and relaxation and it had more than nine million visitors in 2022.

Many holiday destinations have taken to introducing tourist taxes in recent years to cut back on overtourism or to help the local environment.

Holiday “paradise” Bali will introduce a new tax for holidaymakers starting this month.

The tourism levy is IDR 150,000 (around £7) per person and must be paid once during the trip.