The phenomenon of volcanic eruptions has long been a tourism draw that is unique to the island of Hawaii, and the recent activity of the Kilauea Volcano will likely serve to be no different. Tour operators who specialize in the market say that while the time for lava tourism is not now, it isn’t far off, either.
Despite being mindful of the devastation that has befallen residents in the vicinity of Kilauea, some operators serving the area are already reporting an increased level of interest among travelers to see the lava flow.
“Yes, we are getting an extremely high volume of people who would like to go see the volcano right now. Unfortunately for the tourists, this is a time that is extremely serious and devastating to a community who are losing their homes and places to live,” said John Tarson, owner of Epic Lava on the Big Island, an established operator that offers guided hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and around current, active accessible lava flows.
“People find the volcano interesting because it is the most primal source of nature on the planet,” he added.
