Report Title:

Tourism Product Enrichment and Diversification Grants; Counties

 

Description:

Requires amounts of Hawaii tourism authority's tourism product enrichment and diversification grants to be awarded to counties as follows: up to 14.5% to Kauai, up to 18.6% to Hawaii, up to 22.8% to Maui, and up to 44.1% to Honolulu; empowers county mayors to determine program administration, project feasibility, and post-event analysis; provides that moneys may be redistributed if criteria not met. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2875

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to tourism.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The Hawaii tourism authority defines tourism product enrichment and diversification as those tourism-related programs, events, activities, attractions, and experiences Hawaii offers in the following niche markets:

(1) Agricultural tourism: tourism related to experiencing and appreciating agricultural products, settings, and lifestyles;

(2) Cultural tourism: tourism related to Hawaii's host and multiethnic cultures that provide residents and visitors with enriching experiences and insights into the history, customs, and traditions on our islands;

(3) Education tourism: is travel for the purpose of formal and informal education and training in life-long learning experiences in Hawaii's unique natural and multicultural environment;

(4) Health and wellness tourism: is travel for the purpose of enhancing the wellness of the mind, body, and spirit of individuals, families, and groups;

(5) Eco-tourism: is nature-based travel to Hawaii's natural attractions to experience and study Hawaii's unique flora, fauna, and culture in a manner which is ecologically responsible, economically sustainable, encourages the well-being of the local community, and is infused with the spirit of Aloha aina; and

(6) Technology tourism: is travel for the purpose of using Hawaii's scientific and technical resources as well as attending conferences and symposiums devoted to the use of these assets.

In addition, tourism product enrichment and diversification includes those major festivals that portray the diversity and culture of Hawaii and engender significant attendance and marketing activity within and outside the State. The purpose of the tourism product enrichment and diversification grants is to diversify and enrich Hawaii's tourism product by developing new and enhancing existing community-based tourism events, experiences, attractions, and projects to complement Hawaii's traditional resort product and assist in overall economic diversification in the State.

The purpose of this Act is to set parameters for the award of the Hawaii tourism authority's tourism product enrichment and diversification grants to the counties.

SECTION 2. Chapter 201B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§201B-    Tourism product enrichment and diversification grants; counties. (a) The board shall allocate available tourism product enrichment and diversification grant amounts to the counties as follows:

(1) Kauai county shall receive up to 14.5 per cent;

(2) Hawaii county shall receive up to 18.6 per cent;

(3) The city and county of Honolulu shall receive up to 44.1 per cent; and

(4) Maui county shall receive up to 22.8 per cent; provided that the mayors of the respective counties shall determine the agency that shall administer the grant program for projects that meet grant requirements set by the board; and provided further that the administering entity may be a county, private, or nonprofit agency.

(b) The mayors of the respective counties shall:

(1) Establish procedures regarding applications for grant funds;

(2) Establish criteria for determining project feasibility;

(3) Establish a mechanism to ensure timely funding of projects;

(4) Conduct post-event analysis for each project receiving grant funds; and

(5) Provide recommendations to the Hawaii tourism authority on the operation of the grant program.

(c) For the purposes of this section, "tourism product enrichment and diversification" means those tourism-related programs, events, activities, attractions, and experiences that Hawaii offers in the following niche markets:

(1) Agricultural tourism;

(2) Cultural tourism;

(3) Education tourism;

(4) Health and wellness tourism;

(5) Eco-tourism;

(6) Technological tourism; and

(7) Those major festivals that portray the diversity and culture of Hawaii and engender significant attendance and marketing activity within and outside the State.

(d) If the board determines that any project has not met the grant requirements as set by the board, or that post-event analysis indicates that the project did not meet project feasibility criteria, the board may withhold future grant amounts and may redistribute these moneys to other counties or other projects."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.