HONOLULU — Representatives from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, City and County of Honolulu along with public safety professionals and visitor industry partners gathered at a press conference at the Hawaii Convention Center last Wednesday to commemorate the recognition of Honolulu as the “Safest City to Travel to in the World” in 2024 by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.
Ranking 12th in 2023, Honolulu not only secured the top spot for safety in 2024, it also came in first for health measures, women/LGBTQ+/BIPOC safety and safety from violent crime, in addition to second place pertaining to terrorism, and third place for transportation (roads), according to a HTA news release.
Mufi Hannemann, HTA board chair and Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association president and CEO, commended the success of recent programs, public safety workforce and Hawaii’s diverse visitor industry professionals for their “continued commitment to safety and wellbeing of our people.”
He added, “There is nothing more important than ensuring our residents have safe communities for them to live, work and play, which in turn reinforces travelers’ connections with Hawaii as a safe and secure destination they will return to.”
The First Quarter 2024 Visitor Satisfaction and Activity Survey results issued last week by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism showed the Hawaiian Islands as “excellent” or “above average” when it comes to being considered a safe and secure destination according to over 90% of visitors from all markets surveyed.
“Our number one priority is public safety for all of us who live here, which thus extends to those who visit,” stated Mayor Rick Blangiardi in the release. “It also shows that the aloha spirit permeates through our people, and travelers come away realizing all this and more. It reaffirms Hawaii as a global brand. And when you hear the word Honolulu – no matter where you are – travelers’ attitudes shift as there’s a deep respect for the people of this island.”
Honolulu Police Department Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan said, “As an organization, we are working with our community partners, elected officials and businesses here to keep the City and County of Honolulu safe for everyone, from partnering on programs such as Waikiki Safe and Sound or Weed and Seed in neighborhoods including Chinatown. We can’t do it alone as we work every single day for Honolulu to be the safest place in the world.”
City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm added, “This recognition is a testament to everyone here about making Honolulu as safe as possible, as well as every other community on Oahu. From the community organizations and neighborhood boards to each individual, it’s about collaboration and working together.”
Waikiki Business Improvement District Board Chair Paul Kosasa spoke of the $4 million invested annually into Waikiki via safety initiatives, the Aloha Ambassador program, homelessness and street medicine outreach, along with partnerships with law enforcement agencies.
“This year we are witnessing remarkable results in crime reduction and a significant improvement in the ‘eye test,’ making Waikiki safer and more welcoming than ever before. These efforts reflect the success of public-private partnerships and our ongoing commitment to ensuring a secure and vibrant environment for both our residents and visitors,” said Kosasa.
According to the release, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations report is the longest-running and most-trusted research project tracking U.S. travelers’ attitudes toward travel safety and travel insurance. Rankings were determined through analysis of survey responses gathered in September and third-party data sources.