A ‘Resort Bubble’ Would Allow Guests To Leave Their Rooms, But Not The Property
In an move to give a little bump to tourism after having pretty much been shut down since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some Hawaiian Islands are considering a loosening of the restrictions to visitors.
The Big Island is exploring implementing what it calls a “resort bubble” for guests. This would allow them to leave their rooms but not the property. They would have full access to what is on the property, which includes the pool, restaurants, bars, lobby and other areas.
They would be tracked by a “geofence” which means the resort would have to track the whereabouts of their guests.
In addition to the Big Island, the islands of Maui and Kauai are also open to the concept.
As it is currently, visitors must quarantine themselves for 14 days, basically staying cooped up in their room the entire time. They are given a key that only works once, so if they leave their room they must go to the front desk to get a new one.
This policy is in effect until at least Aug. 31. It has already been extended from the end of June to the end of July and now until the first of September. And it could be extended again to October or even the end of the year, for the fall is the slowest tourism time in Hawaii.
The state is considering lifting that restriction as long as visitors have a negative coronavirus test – and proof of it – within 72 hours of arriving on an island. However, that is extremely difficult for tourists, for reasons pointed out here.
There is no timeline when – or even if – the proposed “resort bubble” policy would be implemented in the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.
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