Report Title:

Agricultural Tourism Venues; Appropriation; HTA

 

Description:

Appropriates not less than $500,000 to enhance agricultural tourism venues; moneys from HTA special fund, expended by HTA. (HB2595 CD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2595

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1


C.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ENHANCE AGRICULTURAL TOURISM VENUES.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the agricultural industry has created innovative revenue partnerships following the events of September 11, 2001. In partnership with the Hawaii tourism authority, the county of Hawaii, the Hawaii State Farm Bureau, and the Hawaii economic development board, the department of agriculture has the opportunity to enhance the existing agricultural tourism industry as a new revenue source that can serve both the State's agricultural industry and the visitor industry. Agricultural tourism is valued at $26,000,000, with the potential of increasing to $55,000,000 within two years.

The legislature finds that key sites and events that involve both tourism and agriculture, such as overnight accommodations at farms and ranches and educational tours in agricultural areas, should be identified and systematically developed. The county of Hawaii's ordinances have provided specific encouragement to these endeavors and can be used to develop statewide opportunities.

The legislature further finds that marketing and development funds are essential to the success of these efforts. A public education effort must be undertaken to understand tourism-related activities and agricultural land uses, visitor-oriented business training for ranchers and farmers, interpretive training for guides, the development of community-based interpreters relating to Hawaii's agricultural industry and commodities, collaborative marketing to ensure a broad understanding of "right to farm" regulations, and efforts toward good neighbor policies.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the enhancement of agricultural tourism venues.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the tourism special fund the sum of not less than $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2002-2003 for the enhancement of agricultural tourism venues.

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

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2002.