Bill Text: HI SCR90 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 90 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The Hawaii Tourism Authority To Develop And Implement A Five-year Strategic Plan To Reduce Visitor Counts And Increase Per Visitor Spending.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-05 - Referred to EET. [SCR90 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SCR90-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	90
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the hawaii tourism authority to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan to reduce visitor counts and increase per visitor spending.

WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority's 2018 Annual Visitor Research Report, total visitor arrivals and visitor spending to the State increased in 2018, the seventh consecutive year of record growth in both categories; and

WHEREAS, in 2018, visitor arrivals totaled 9,888,845 individuals arriving in the State by air service or cruise ships, an increase of 5.2 percent over the previous record of 9,404,346 visitor arrivals in 2017; and

WHEREAS, when adjusted for inflation, 2018 visitor spending in the State totaled $17,640,000,000, a gain of 5.1 percent over 2017; and

WHEREAS, the average per person spending by visitors to the State totaled $198, similar to 2017 data; and

WHEREAS, continuing record increases of visitor arrivals in the State is unsustainable; and

WHEREAS, the concomitant environmental degradation, overcrowding, and dangerous conditions caused by these high and increasing numbers of visitors to the State can be addressed only through a decrease in the number of visitors; and

WHEREAS, despite concerns regarding the record increasing visitor counts to the State, tourism remains a critical industry, supporting the employment of over 217,000 individuals in the State; and

WHEREAS, developing and implementing strategies to increase per person visitor spending the State, even while reducing the number of visitors to the State, will ensure that the tourism industry remains vibrant while enhancing visitor experiences through the reduction in overcrowding at visitor attractions; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan for 2020-2025, and every five years thereafter, to decrease visitor counts to the State and increase per visitor spending; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that any five-year strategic plan developed and implemented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority include specific objectives, goals, and strategies to reduce visitor count and increase per visitor spending in the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to develop any tourism marketing plan with the aim of reducing visitor counts and increasing per visitor spending the State; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to submit a report to the Legislature of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Chairperson of the Hawaii Tourism Authority Board of Directors; and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.