Efficiently crack down on illegal transient rentals

Coronavirus has devastated Hawaii’s travel-dependent economy. Implementing fair, effective regulations that safely allow travel and revitalize our local businesses should be at the top of post-pandemic recovery plans.

As a vacation rental operator in Wailea, I urge Mayor Victorino and the Maui County Council to take swift action to stabilize the travel market for when we are ready to reopen.

Online travel platforms like Expedia Group have worked with local governments to give short-term rentals the ability to operate in designated vacation areas as long as they disclose their tax map key or transient accommodation tax numbers on their online directories.

For example, as Max Sword wrote in a Maui News viewpoint on Nov. 20, Kaua‘i County entered into a memorandum of understanding with Expedia Group and Airbnb over the summer, allowing the county to efficiently crack down on illegal properties while protecting the legally operating vacation rentals important to the community. A similar MOU was recently signed by Mayor Caldwell on Oahu.

Vacation rentals offer units that are often better equipped to accommodate social distancing guidelines and encourage their guests to visit local shops and restaurants — spending that helps support the local economy.

I urge local officials to work with vacation rental operators to protect the travel ecosystem and our local economy for when it is safe for travelers to visit.

Kerri McGovern

Wailea