THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

54

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING the hawaii tourism authority to reduce barriers to travel and promote tourism between the Philippines and hawaii.

 

 

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is a public instrumentality of the State dedicated to tourism; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's mission is "to strategically manage the growth of Hawaii's visitor industry in a manner consistent with [Hawaii's] economic goal, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and community interests."; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority's powers include the ability to:

(1) "Work to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel in order to provide a positive and competitive business environment, including coordinating with the department of transportation on issues affecting airlines and air route development";

(2) "Market and promote sports-related activities and events"; and

(3) "Coordinate the development of new products with the counties and other public sectors and private sectors, including the development of sports, culture, health, education, business, and eco-tourism"; and

WHEREAS, members of the Filipino community have contributed significantly and substantially to Hawaii since their arrival in the islands in 1906. The rich culture and proud heritage of the Filipino people have flourished and are a positive influence in Hawaii. As the year 2006 will celebrate the centennial anniversary of the arrival of the first Filipinos in Hawaii, the Legislature, pursuant to Act 159, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, established a temporary Filipino centennial celebration commission to plan for the commemoration of the centennial anniversary; and

WHEREAS, with the upcoming centennial anniversary, large Filipino population in Hawaii and the historical ties between these areas, travel between the Philippines and Hawaii presents an area of potentially significant tourism growth; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is positioned to play a pivotal role in the development of travel between the Philippines and Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to:

(1) Work to eliminate or reduce barriers to travel between the Philippines and Hawaii;

(2) Create a vision and develop a long-range strategic plan for tourism between Hawaii and the Philippines;

(3) Coordinate the development of sports, culture, health and wellness, technology, agriculture, and nature tourism between Hawaii and the Philippines; and

(4) Work directly with any and all federal, state, and county agencies, including United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission, to accomplish the items in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to develop a detailed strategic plan to carry out this task and to report its findings and recommended strategic plan, including specific deliverables and a timeline, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security, the Governor, the President of the Republic of the Philippines, the Executive Director of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Mayors of all of the counties, the Chairperson of the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission, and the Philippine Consul General in Hawaii.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii Tourism Authority; Travel and Tourism Between the Philippines and Hawaii