Report Title:

Tourism; Strategic Plan

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii endured a stressful period of flat economic growth for most of the 1990s, in spite of a robust economy throughout the rest of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Economic Revitalization Task Force was convened in 1997 to identify challenges and opportunities in an effort to engender economic recovery; and

WHEREAS, one of the key recommendations made by the Task Force in its report was the creation of a $60,000,000 dedicated funding source for the promotion of Hawaii tourism; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature responded to the Task Force's recommendations during the 1998 Regular Session through the passage of Act 156, creating the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Tourism Special Fund; and

WHEREAS, since its inception, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has embarked on an aggressive work program, including foundation studies and community outreach programs that have led to Hawaii's first comprehensive strategic plan, Ke Kumu, to strengthen the tourism component of Hawaii's economy; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has established accountability as a priority in measuring its own actions, as well as, those of its contractors, professional partners, and staff, and has adopted the broad indicator of visitor expenditures as a measurement of return on the investment made through the Tourism Special Fund; and

WHEREAS, in the year 2000, it is estimated that annual visitor expenditures have increased by $1,180,000,000 from 1999 accounting for an 11.5 per cent increase from the previous year; and

WHEREAS, in the year 2000, there was a 6.4 per cent increase in scheduled airline seats from the previous year to Hawaii in conjunction with the Hawaii Tourism Authority's initiative to increase airlift to Hawaii in a manner profitable to carriers; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has supported one hundred twenty-three product development projects in the amount of $5,900,000 for fiscal years 2000 and 2001, providing for a diverse array of new activities for Hawaii's visitors in the following niche areas: agritourism, cultural tourism, ecotourism, edutourism, health and wellness, sports and technotourism; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has supported more than fifty events and festivals in the amount of $14,000,000 for calendar years 2000 and 2001, which elevated Hawaii's image worldwide on high-profile events and festivals; and

WHEREAS, an important element of the Hawaii Tourism Authority's Tourism Strategic Plan is to advocate for strengthening and reinvesting in the tourism infrastructure by both the government and private sectors; and

WHEREAS, in the past several years, Hawaii has benefited from extremely large investments in new and revitalized properties and public facilities in visitor-oriented areas, which in calendar year 2000 is estimated to contribute $875,600,000 in capital investment which translates to 16.4 per cent of the total investment in Hawaii economy; and

WHEREAS, the additional jobs created by this investment adds significantly to Hawaii's short- and long-term economic future; and

WHEREAS, an important element of such reinvestments by major private sector firms is the recommitment by these major entities to enhance the long-term health of Hawaii's economy; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's efforts to diversify a heavy emphasis on leisure tourism toward business meetings have resulted in an increased booking pace for the Hawaii Convention Center and an increase in the number and size of business meetings throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, on July 1, 2000, the Hawaii Tourism Authority assumed the responsibility for marketing, managing, and operating the Hawaii Convention Center and in so doing has reinforced the goodwill in surrounding communities; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the Senate concurring, that the Legislature recognizes the accomplishments of the Hawaii Tourism Authority in the pursuit of its tourism strategic plan, Ke Kumu, and encourages the Hawaii Tourism Authority to continue its efforts to strengthen the tourism component of Hawaii's economy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to emphasize the need for encouraging reinvestment in the tourism infrastructure, including major visitor destination areas, as well as, projects to protect the natural environment; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to broaden its scope of activities to include coordination with appropriate agencies in efforts to mitigate traffic congestion, to preserve natural areas and public beaches, and to enhance other economic development promotions of the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and the Executive Director and Chairperson of the Board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.