STAND. COM. REP. NO.656

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 1210

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1210 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Hawaii Tourism Authority to establish a registry of groups of state residents traveling to out-of-state destinations to enlist their assistance in marketing or promoting Hawaii as a tourist destination.

In addition, this measure requires the Authority to promote this registry, to be known as the "Hawaii tourism registry", and advertise how groups may be included, including through the establishment of an internet website. Groups intended for inclusion in the registry must consist of five or more Hawaii resident individuals who intend to travel to out-of-state destinations for purposes that are not solely tourism-related, such as attending conventions, meetings, or other functions relating to professional, business, cultural, or fraternal organizations or associations.

This measure also allows the authority to: contract with a private entity or individuals to implement or assist in the implementation of the registry; and enter into agreements with groups in the registry, either directly or through a private contractor.

Your Committee finds that the people of Hawaii who travel out-of-state are often the State's finest "ambassadors of aloha", and represent an untapped potential to market and promote Hawaii and its people. Your Committee agrees with the intent of this measure to enhance the marketing activity of the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1210 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair