STAND. COM. REP. NO. 914

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  H.B. No. 221
                                        H.D. 2
                                        S.D. 1




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was
referred H.B. No. 221, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM
     AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:
     
     The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Tourism
Authority (HTA) to:

     (1)  Develop a long-range policy plan for presentation to
          the Legislature by January 1, 2000, identifying other
          departments and agencies involved and specifying a
          program of action for these departments and agencies;
          and

     (2)  Require the strategic tourism marketing plan to
          implement these recommendations, and to be updated
          every two years.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the HTA has already undertaken
this planning process with specific emphasis on the issues of:

     (1)  Location and level of optimum growth for the State and
          by county or island;

 
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     (2)  Current visitor research;

     (3)  Rejuvenation of Hawaii's existing visitor plant and
          development of new facilities;

     (4)  Brand marketing of Hawaii as a visitor destination;

     (5)  Roles and responsibilities of the appropriate public
          and private sector entities;

     (6)  Measures of effectiveness; and

     (7)  Funding sources.

     Your Committee is supportive of this planning effort as
critical to the long-term success of the HTA and its mandate.
Your Committee has amended this measure to reflect the change
from three to two years for updating the strategic tourism
marketing plan in section 201B-3(16), Hawaii Revised Statutes,
and to make technical, nonsubstantive amendments.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Economic Development that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of H.B. No. 221, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that
it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B.
No. 221, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Economic
                                   Development,



                                   ______________________________
                                   LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

 
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