THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	79
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

requesting an exploratory study on hawaii's suitability as a climatotherapy TOURISM destination for atopic Disease patients from east asia.

     WHEREAS, there continues to be a worldwide increase in the prevalence of atopic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema and dermatitis; and

     WHEREAS, the prevalence of atopic diseases has been shown to be affected by the level of urbanization, industrialization, and geographical latitude; and

     WHEREAS, symptoms of atopic dermatitis manifest as an irritated skin condition ranging from mild chronic itching to severe itching with cracking, swelling, crusting, and scaling of the skin; and

     WHEREAS, atopic dermatitis occurs most frequently in children and adolescents, and as a chronic disease it can appear for the first time or reappear in adulthood; and

     WHEREAS, symptoms can be aggravated by environmental irritants, including exposure to chemicals, synthetic materials, cold or dry weather, air pollutants, air-borne allergens, as well as stress; and

     WHEREAS, Japanese physicians have identified Hawaii, with its clean air, light humidity, and remote location, as providing a healing environment for relief from some of the symptoms associated with atopic diseases; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is already a preferred vacation destination for many families in East Asia; and

     WHEREAS, the global market for the atopic dermatitis therapeutics market is expected to grow to $942,000,000 by 2017; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii is uniquely situated to capture a portion of the revenue derived from this therapeutic market in the form of climatotherapy tourism; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, that the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, in partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, is requested to undertake an exploratory study evaluating the suitability of Hawaii's facilities and environmental factors with respect to the promotion of the State as a climatotherapy tourism destination for atopic disease patients, particularly from East Asia; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the exploratory study assess the potential economic benefits that may be derived from the promotion of Hawaii as a climatotherapy tourism destination for patients suffering from atopic diseases; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the exploratory study also examine the cultural factors and needs associated with the establishment of a climatotherapy tourism market in Hawaii for atopic disease patients; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and the Hawaii Tourism Authority are requested to submit their written findings and policy recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2012; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and Chairperson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of Directors.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Atopic Diseases; Climatotherapy Tourism; Exploratory Study