Hawaii’s state tourism agency, typically dedicated to welcoming visitors, is now paying for them to leave.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has set aside $25,000 for the costs of sending tourists away if they refuse to abide by the state’s 14-day quarantine.
Outbound travel arrangements are being handled by the non-profit group Visitor Aloha Society, the state said in a news release.
Nineteen people have been flown back to their airports of origin since the beginning of the outbreak. In some cases, the violators have been prosecuted for misdemeanors and forced to pay a fine.
The Visitor Aloha Society arranges for the travel back home, and pays for the ticket if the visitor can’t afford it.