STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1044-04

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2004

RE: H.R. No. 103

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism and Culture, to which was referred H.R. No. 103 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO TRAVEL AND PROMOTE TOURISM BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this resolution is to recognize the important role that the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has in developing travel between the Philippines and Hawaii by requesting HTA to work with federal, state, and county agencies to:

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

(2) Develop a long-range strategic plan; and

(3) Coordinate the development of sports, culture, health and wellness, technology, agriculture, and nature tourism.

The Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission, and a concerned individual submitted testimony in support of this resolution. The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and HTA offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this resolution by:

(1) Clarifying that HTA is requested to coordinate its efforts to help reduce travel barriers between the Philippines and Hawaii, rather than eliminate those barriers, since elimination is impossible due to security purposes; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism and Culture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 103, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 103, H.D. 1.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism and Culture,

 

____________________________

JERRY L. CHANG, Chair