HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

99

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO CONDUCT A STUDY to measure visitor accommodations performance.

 

 

WHEREAS, tourism is the number one industry of Hawaii as it provides critical employment and income for its businesses and citizens; and

WHEREAS, the vast majority of visitors stay in some type of paid accommodations, whether it is a hotel, timeshare, bed and breakfast, or condominium; and

WHEREAS, reliable, timely information showing changes in taxes paid by the visitor for accommodations would provide businesses and the State a good way of assessing the health of the visitor industry; and

WHEREAS, current transient accommodations tax receipts are not reported on an accrual basis and therefore can be affected by weekends and late payments; and

WHEREAS, the current information gathered does not provide a true picture of the activity by island; and

WHEREAS, if information on accommodation occupancy and room rate were collected, it could provide for a more accurate status of visitor accommodations and better forecasting and strategic planning; and

WHEREAS, this body recognizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism as the state agency responsible for the collection and research of tourism activities; and

WHEREAS, this body has recognized the importance of fostering a strong tourism industry by establishing the Hawaii Tourism Authority to oversee and coordinate statewide tourism promotion and planning efforts and by providing the Hawaii Tourism Authority with a dedicated source of funding; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to work with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Hawaii Hotel Association, and the Department of Taxation to study and identify means to better measure monthly visitor accommodations performance on a timely basis; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to report to the Legislature on its findings no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Chairperson and Board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the President of the Hawaii Hotel Association, and the Director of the Department of Taxation.

Report Title:

DBEDT; Study; Better Measure Visitor Accommodations Performance