WHEREAS, Hawaii's economy relies on a healthy tourism industry; visitor expenditures reached nearly $11,000,000,000 in 2000; and

WHEREAS, the official state forecasts project a slight improvement in tourism in 2003: 6,800,000 visitors are projected to come to the isles and spend a record total of $11.13 billion; however, this projection assumes no economic or travel disruptions; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii cannot continue to rely solely on warm sunny weather and beautiful beaches to attract new and returning visitors; travelers' tastes and needs are changing and maturing and Hawaii faces increasing competition from other destinations with similar characteristics; and

WHEREAS, it is essential to Hawaii's economy that our visitor industry is reinvigorated, primarily by identifying and developing new niche tourism markets that permit Hawaii's visitor industry to develop and maintain a stronger competitive advantage; and

WHEREAS, sports tourism includes both spectator and participant activities and attractions and is a rapidly growing sector of the tourism industry; and

WHEREAS, although golf is the leading recreational activity for Hawaii visitors, additional opportunities exist to attract niche recreational tourism markets for surfing, sport fishing, diving, and tennis; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is an established sports destination in a number of areas that include the Honolulu Marathon, the Ironman Triathlon, the National Football League Pro Bowl, the Aloha and Hula college bowls, and a host of Professional Golf Association events, bringing vacation and business visitors to Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the publicity and media exposure, including national and regional television broadcasts, surrounding these major sports events is of enormous value to general tourism promotion; these sporting events also provide business opportunities for local businesses and charitable contributions to our communities that include cash donations and personal visits by sports celebrities to hospitalized children; and

WHEREAS, a coordinated and focused development of sports tourism in Hawaii, including related recreational tourism, would broaden the State's tourism image and distinguish Hawaii from other tourist destinations; and

WHEREAS, a Hawaii State Sports Authority would aid in the development of sports tourism by providing a centralized strategic coordination of existing sports events, encouraging more sporting events in Hawaii, and facilitating sports events by looking at site venues and marketing events; and

WHEREAS, although the Hawaii Tourism Authority is authorized to market, promote, develop, and coordinate sports-related activities and events and has a sports department, it has no committee that handles sports; and

WHEREAS, accordingly, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Tourism Authority recently stated that the development of a sports authority has merit and the Hawaii Tourism Authority is exploring the idea of establishing a sports authority; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to study the feasibility of establishing a Hawaii State Sports Authority within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to be responsible for promoting, marketing, and developing sports tourism and sports-related activities and events in Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in conducting the study, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to consider repealing all Hawaii Tourism Authority powers and duties related to the promotion, development, coordination, and marketing of sports tourism and sports-related activities and events and transferring such powers and duties to the Hawaii State Sports Authority; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in studying the feasibility of establishing the Hawaii State Sports Authority, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to consider issues relating to:

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not less than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2004; and

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

Report Title:

Hawaii State Sports Authority; Feasibility Study