STAND. COM. REP. NO.  983-12

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2012

RE:   S.B. No. 490

      S.D. 3

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committees on Tourism and International Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 490, S.D. 3, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide funding for three years at $2,000,000 per year to develop and implement initiatives that take advantage of expanded visa programs to increase travel opportunities for international visitors who wish to visit Hawaii.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority, Outrigger Enterprises Group, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Airlines Committee of Hawaii, Retail Merchants of Hawaii, ILWU Local 142, and Kohala Coast Resort Association testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Budget and Finance and Tax Foundation of Hawaii provided comments.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Tourism and International Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 490, S.D. 3, and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Tourism and International Affairs,

____________________________ KAREN L. AWANA, Chair

____________________________ TOM BROWER, Chair