THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

34

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING A STUDY OF PRIVATE SECTOR SPENDING TO ADVERTISE AND PROMOTE HAWAII AS A visitor DESTINATION.

 

WHEREAS, the private sector has promoted the Hawaii visitor industry since 1902, when a local businessman convinced a group of his colleagues to pay him to advertise the Territory of Hawaii on the Mainland; and

WHEREAS, that same year, about 2,000 visitors came to enjoy Hawaii's version of paradise after advertisements promising perpetual spring and romance appeared in national magazines; and

WHEREAS, over the decades, promotional efforts grew and so did the number of tourists, accommodations, and businesses catering to the visitor market; and

WHEREAS, from the first appropriation of public funds to promote tourism – $15,000 in 1903 from the Territorial Legislature – public funding has grown to over $60,000,000 in state funds annually; and

WHEREAS, while there is extensive information on the amount of public moneys expended to advertise and promote Hawaii as a visitor destination, little information is available on private sector spending by hotels, restaurants, tour companies, attractions, and the myriad other businesses that advertise to attract visitors to Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-First Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2002, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to study the level and scope of private sector spending to advertise and promote Hawaii as a visitor destination; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau shall seek the assistance of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the private organizations that represent businesses that cater to the visitor industry, such as hotels, restaurants, attractions, tour companies, and others as appropriate; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau shall report to the Legislature on its findings no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2003; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, and the Executive Director of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

LRB to study private sector spending on tourism advertising and promotion.