REPORT TITLE:
Tourism Plan Implementation


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        49
THE SENATE                           S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                    SENATE  CONCURRENT
                        RESOLUTION
  REQUESTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN OF
    ACTION FOR THE STATE'S TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.


 1        WHEREAS, Hawaii's economy has experienced a period of
 2   unprecedented stagnation which has stimulated an unwarranted
 3   air of pessimism concerning our economic future; and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, Hawaii possesses both the capabilities and
 6   resources which hold tremendous promise for diversifying and
 7   expanding our economic base, as well as for advancing our
 8   education, training, and employment opportunities into the 21st
 9   Century; and
10   
11        WHEREAS, as the single most important segment of the
12   State's economy, the travel and tourism industry generates
13   approximately one-quarter of the State's gross product and
14   approximately one-third of the State's jobs; and
15   
16        WHEREAS, although diversification of the economy is
17   desirable, the travel and tourism industry will continue to be
18   Hawaii's most lucrative industry in the foreseeable future; and
19   
20        WHEREAS, while new opportunities exist to expand the
21   traditional travel industry by linking it with emerging niche
22   markets, such as ecotourism, cultural tourism, techno-tourism,
23   and the growing health and wellness industry, competition from
24   other national and global destinations is steadily increasing;
25   and
26   
27        WHEREAS, although numerous studies have already been
28   performed on the various economic benefits of implementing such
29   tourism initiatives, the State continues to languish in a
30   stagnant economic condition due to the lack of progress in
31   aggressively implementing tourism diversification; and
32   
33        WHEREAS, because the long-term prosperity of the State and
34   its citizens is inextricably linked to the continued success of
35   the travel and tourism industry, a comprehensive strategic plan
36   to strengthen and revitalize the industry is needed; now,
37   therefore, 
38   

 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 2   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, the House of
 3   Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority
 4   (HTA) is requested to implement, in coordination with the
 5   Hawaii Tourism Marketing Council, the Hawaii Visitors and
 6   Convention Bureau (HVCB), and other interested parties, a
 7   comprehensive, long-term strategic plan of action for the
 8   State's travel and tourism industry, to include but not be
 9   limited to the following issue areas and related topics of
10   concern:
11   
12        (1)  Growth:  the projected rate of growth in arrivals and
13             visitor expenditures by source markets; projected
14             location of growth in arrivals, infrastructure and
15             visitor-related facilities; impact on the community
16             from additional growth in arrivals, infrastructure
17             and visitor-related facilities; facilitation of
18             travel to Hawaii, e.g., direct flights, visa waivers;
19             deterrents to growth, such as street prostitution,
20             crimes against visitors, competitive prices from
21             other destinations;
22   
23        (2)  Physical development:  quality and diversity of
24             accommodations, attractions, and activities; adequacy
25             of existing and planned public infrastructure, (e.g.,
26             airports, roads, harbors, public parks, recreation
27             areas, water supply, sewers, telecommunications) and
28             services (e.g., police, fire, medical, lifeguard,
29             park maintenance) to support additional growth;
30             business climate/regulatory environment;
31   
32        (3)  Environmental resources and cultural heritage:
33             competition for access to, and use of, public
34             resources; assessment of fees to support maintenance
35             of public resources; preservation, protection, and
36             interpretation of historic and cultural resources;
37   
38        (4)  Community, visitor and industry relations:  resident
39             attitudes toward the visitor industry, satisfaction
40             with tourism development, and awareness of tourism's
41             contributions to the community; visitor understanding
42             and respect for the community and satisfaction with

 
 
 
 
 
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                                  S.C.R. NO.            S.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        


 1             the Hawaii tourism experience; industry support for
 2             the community;
 3   
 4        (5)  Employment and career development:  education and
 5             training programs for visitor industry employees to
 6             meet the changing needs of travelers; opportunities
 7             for upward mobility;
 8   
 9        (6)  Marketing:  market research of emerging trends in
10             travel; market diversification and segmentation into
11             niche markets such as cultural tourism, health
12             tourism, ecotourism, edu-tourism, business tourism,
13             sports tourism, techno-tourism and wedding/honeymoon
14             markets; promotional campaigns which reflect Hawaii's
15             tourism product offerings in the niche markets;
16   
17        (7)  Financing:  declining role of the private sector in
18             the financing of marketing and promotion of Hawaii;
19             funding to develop and maintain public infrastructure
20             and services to support additional visitor arrivals
21             and visitor-related facilities constructed by the
22             private sector; and
23   
24        (8)  Roles and responsibilities of government and the
25             private sector regarding implementation of the
26             policies and programs formulated in each of the above
27             areas, and any other issue areas that may be
28             identified later;
29   
30   and
31   
32        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority
33   is requested to submit its schedule of implementation and a
34   status report to the Legislature no later than twenty days
35   prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2000; and 
36   
37        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this
38   Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the
39   Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Chairperson of the Hawaii Tourism
40   Marketing Council, and the President of the Hawaii Visitors and
41   Convention Bureau.