Report Title:

Agricultural Tourism Venues; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates $150,000 from the tourism special fund to enhance agricultural tourism venues.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

525

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

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 its transition from plantations to a diversified economic base. In partnership with the Hawaii tourism authority, the county of Hawaii, the Big Island Farm Bureau, the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, and the department of agriculture, new opportunities have been created to enhance the existing agricultural industry through new ancillary revenue sources. These new opportunities in agricultural tourism can serve to enhance the State's agricultural and visitor industries. According to the department of agriculture's testimony during the 2002 legislative session, 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 farm and ranch visits, educational tours, Hawaii value added products, horseback riding, hunting, and pick-your-own and cooking tours in agricultural areas should be identified and systematically developed. The county of Hawaii has encouraged these endeavors and can serve as a role model to develop statewide opportunities and impact information for agricultural tourism as an ancillary revenue source for Hawaii's traditional production base.

The legislature further finds that development funds are essential to the success of these efforts. A public agriculture industry 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 ranchers and farmers, interpretive training for guides, the development of community-based interpreters relating to Hawaii's agricultural industry and commodities, education regarding the "Right to Farm" Act, and efforts toward good neighbor policies.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish the county of Hawaii as a pilot project site to develop agriculturally-related tourism opportunities.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the tourism special fund the sum of $150,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for the purpose of identifying key sites and events that involve both tourism and agriculture and recommending systematic development of these sites and events while utilizing the county of Hawaii as a pilot project.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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