STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1420

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.C.R. No. 175

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 175 entitled:

 

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN BASED ON TOURISM HOT SPOTS IDENTIFIED IN COUNTY DESTINATION MANAGEMENT ACTION PLANS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop an implementation plan based on tourism hot spots identified in county destination management action plans.

 

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

 

     Your Committee finds that the current reduction in the number of visitors to Hawaii due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, provides Hawaii with the opportunity to review and restructure tourism management practices that can be implemented as the tourism industry recovers.

 

     Your Committee further finds that tourism "hot spots" include areas that attract visitors because of their popularity, resulting in overcrowding, congestion, degradation of resources, safety hazards, and a negative experience for residents and visitors.  Your Committee believes that identifying these tourism "hot spots" will allow the Hawaii Tourism Authority to develop an implementation plan to assess resources needed to facilitate multi-year discussions between public, private and community stakeholders to address issues, including the responsibilities of each respective county and state agency, and recommend a timetable for implementation of the plan.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the implementation plan should also explore potential areas for increasing revenue, including impact fees; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 175, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 175, S.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism,

 

 

 

________________________________

GLENN WAKAI, Chair