Letting tourists NEAR the lava is dangerous as well as inconvenient. There are many many reports of morons sticking things in the lava, then flinging it around, hitting other people. Also of people trying to walk on it, then falling through.

The nightly news tonight talked about the horrible air quality in the area right now because of the direction of winds. At least tourists can pack up and leave, just forfeiting a few hundred in fee's. I feel for the locals who have no place else to go. Not like it will just end tomorrow either... although it could.