HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1233
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO tourism.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that tourism social carrying capacity refers to the maximum number of tourists that can be present at a destination without significantly undermining local residents' quality of life and tourists' enjoyment of the destination. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, when the number of tourists at a destination exceeds this tourism social carrying capacity, the phenomenon called "overtourism" occurs.

The legislature further finds that tourism social carrying capacity includes both the carrying capacity as perceived by residents and carrying capacity as perceived by visitors. The former is important because it directly affects residents' quality of life. The latter is important because it directly affects visitors' satisfaction with their visits, which, in turn, affects the likelihood of the visitors returning to the destination and recommending the destination to others. The tourism spending that results from these return visits and recommendations, in turn, affects the economic viability of the destination's visitor industry. Often, only one of these two dimensions is studied, but to fully understand the tourism social carrying capacity for a given destination, both items should be studied simultaneously.

The legislature further finds that policymakers and tourism managers at popular destinations around the world increasingly are seeking estimates of tourism social carrying capacity to allow action to be taken to control visitation before overtourism occurs. Here in Hawaii, the school of travel industry management at the university of Hawaii at Manoa has proposed to conduct a study to provide policymakers and destination managers with estimates of the tourism social carrying capacity for each of the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the university of Hawaii school of travel industry management to conduct a study that establishes estimates of the tourism social carrying capacities for each of the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai, considering the perspective of both residents and visitors.

SECTION 2. (a) The school of travel industry management of the university of Hawaii shall conduct a tourism social carrying capacity study, which shall research and establish estimates of the tourism social carrying capacity for each of the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai.

(b) In conducting the study, the school of travel industry management shall:

(1) Consider the tourism social carrying capacity as perceived by both Hawaii residents and visitors;

(2) Consult with the department of health to assess how each island's health system affects tourism social carrying capacity, taking into consideration the availability of hospital beds, medical supplies, and health personnel on each island; and

(3) Consult with the department of land and natural resources to assess the tourism social carrying capacity of state parks and hiking trails on each island.

(c) The school of travel industry management may consult with any other relevant agency, stakeholder, or other entity that the school deems relevant for purposes of the study.

(d) The school of travel industry management shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2024.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the school of travel industry management to conduct the tourism social carrying capacity study pursuant to this Act.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2023.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

UH; TIM; Carrying Capacity; Study; DOH; DLNR

Description:

Requires the School of Travel Industry Management of the University of Hawaii to conduct a study that assesses the tourism social carrying capacity for each of the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai. Requires the School of Travel Industry Management to consult with the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates moneys.

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