Tough Times Ahead

Aloha Kakou:

Wednesday, State Tourism Liaison Marsha Weinert and Terryl Vencl of the Maui Visitor's Bureau convened a meeting of tourism-related businesses in Lahaina to discuss the state of the tourism downturn on Maui.

Marsha Wienert says she is not confident at all about 2009. Advance bookings for the first quarter of 2009, normally a very busy season, look dismal.

Both women said that, while Maui has suffered some dark days in the past, the island always comes back better and stronger than ever due to the cadre of loyal vacationers that prefer to spend their downtime here.

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