Visitors largely satisfied with Safe Travels program

Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald Travelers exit the terminal after being tested for COVID-19 at the Hilo International Airport on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
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Visitors to the state seem largely satisfied with the Safe Travels Hawaii program, according to a survey by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

HTA announced Tuesday that a February survey of visitors from the U.S. mainland found that 85% of respondents felt their COVID-19 testing experience went smoothly, an increase from December when 79% of respondents felt the same.

The primary issue for respondents who had problems with Safe Travels was the 72-hour window in which travelers must test negative for COVID-19 in order to skip a 10-day quarantine after arrival.

Of those respondents who struggled with the program, 51% felt the window was unreasonable, 28% had difficulty finding a trusted testing partner and 24% thought the cost of the test was too high.

While they were in Hawaii, 90% of visitors claimed they adhered to mask mandates “all or most of the time,” while 83% said they similarly practiced social distancing and 69% claimed to avoid gatherings.

Overall, visitor satisfaction was high — 82% of travelers felt their trip was “excellent” and 92% said it met or exceeded their expectations.