Bill Text: HI HCR196 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urging The Hawaii Tourism Authority To Help Address The Impacts Of Increased Tourism On Local Communities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-11 - Referred to TIA, FIN, referral sheet 40 [HCR196 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2020-HCR196-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.C.R. NO. |
196 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
urging THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO HELP ADDRESS THE IMPACTS of increased tourism ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS, tourism has long been a pillar of Hawaii's modern economy; and
WHEREAS, the tourism industry employs numerous residents and positively benefits the State's economy in various ways; and
WHEREAS, the annual number of visitors to Hawaii has more than doubled from 4,800,000 in 1985, to 10,000,000 in 2019; and
WHEREAS, residents of Hawaii are increasingly experiencing the impact of increased tourism on the quality of daily life; and
WHEREAS, tourist demand for non-hotel and non-resort lodging has contributed to increasing rent and other high costs of housing for local residents in numerous areas; and
WHEREAS, the increased number of visitors on Hawaii’s roads has increased traffic congestion, decreased available parking, and exacerbated deterioration of roadways and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the increased number of visitors has also strained natural resources; crowded public beaches, trails, and public spaces; and increased the cost of properly maintaining public infrastructure and natural resources; and
WHEREAS, on average, each visitor to Hawaii is spending less in Hawaii than in previous years; and
WHEREAS, additional moneys spent by tourists could be used to pay for public services, infrastructure, and other needs for which local taxpayers are currently forced to pay; and
WHEREAS, recent surveys and polls show that the general public's attitudes towards tourism are growing increasingly negative; and
WHEREAS, more should be done to address the impacts of tourism on local communities and better balance the benefits of tourism and the needs of local residents; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the Hawaii Tourism Authority is to manage the strategic growth of Hawaii's visitor industry in a manner consistent with the economic goals, cultural values, natural resource preservation efforts, and community interests of the residents of Hawaii; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the Senate concurring, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to help address the impacts of increased tourism on local communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is encouraged to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and communicate with affected communities to identify issues and areas of concern and develop recommendations to address these issues and areas of concern; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not less than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2022; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that until plans have been developed to address tourism-related impacts on local communities, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to focus its efforts on increasing the amount of money spent by visitors to Hawaii instead of increasing the number of visitors to Hawaii beyond 10,000,000 per year; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and Mayor of each county.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Hawaii Tourism Authority; Impacts of Tourism
